Teachers and the Law

The Training and Development Agency's new Professional Standards for teachers requires 'an up-to-date knowledge and understanding' of the law. But how can you know the law when it keeps changing? And how do you apply abstract legal guidelines to real-life situations? Teachers and the Law explains the basics and suggests simple strategies to help you understand the law and apply it effectively throughout your career. Features include: real-life examples that illustrate how teachers can apply statutory guidelines to everyday interactions with students, parents and colleagues, covering issues such as equal opportunities and health and safety; discussion of how to implement the National Curriculum and its assessment procedures in line with statutory requirements; a review of employment law for teachers, including an examination of teachers' pay and rights to preparation, planning and assessment (PPA); an easy-to-use format that highlights examples and allows practitioners to quickly find relevant passages; a useful guide to resources that teachers can consult to stay informed of changes in the law. Teachers and the Law is a practical guide that doesn't just explain the law; it teaches you how to understand it even as it changes and develops. It is an indispensable tool for all teachers, whether in training, just qualified or well established in the profession.

Kim Insley is a tutor in the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education, Institute of Education, University of London.