Education and Inspections Act 2006

6 Functions in respect of youth work, recreation etc

(1) Before section 508 of EA 1996 (functions of LEA in respect of facilities for recreation and social and physical training), and immediately after the cross-heading which precedes that section, insert—

“507A LEAs in England: functions in respect of recreational and training facilities for children under 13

(1) A local education authority in England must secure that the facilities for primary and secondary education provided for their area include adequate facilities for recreation and social and physical training for children who have not attained the age of 13.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) a local education authority may—

(a) establish, maintain and manage, or assist the establishment, maintenance and management of—

(i) camps, holiday classes, playing fields, play centres, and

(ii) other places, including playgrounds, gymnasiums and swimming baths not appropriated to any school or other educational institution,

at which facilities for recreation and social and physical training are available for persons receiving primary or secondary education;

(b) organise games, expeditions and other activities for such persons; and

(c) defray, or contribute towards, the expenses of such games, expeditions and other activities.

(3) When making arrangements for the provision of facilities or the organisation of activities in the exercise of their powers under subsection (2), a local education authority must, in particular, have regard to the expediency of co-operating with any voluntary societies or bodies whose objects include the provision of facilities or the organisation of activities of a similar character.

507B LEAs in England: functions in respect of leisure-time activities etc for persons aged 13 to 19 and certain persons aged 20 to 24

(1) A local education authority in England must, so far as reasonably practicable, secure for qualifying young persons in the authority’s area access to—

(a) sufficient educational leisure-time activities which are for the improvement of their well-being, and sufficient facilities for such activities; and

(b) sufficient recreational leisure-time activities which are for the improvement of their well-being, and sufficient facilities for such activities.

(2) “Qualifying young persons”, for the purposes of this section, are—

(a) persons who have attained the age of 13 but not the age of 20; and

(b) persons who have attained the age of 20 but not the age of 25 and have a learning difficulty (within the meaning of section 13(5)(a) and (6) of the Learning and Skills Act 2000).

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a)—

(a) “sufficient educational leisure-time activities” which are for the improvement of the well-being of qualifying young persons in the authority’s area must include sufficient educational leisure-time activities which are for the improvement of their personal and social development, and

(b) “sufficient facilities for such activities” must include sufficient facilities for educational leisure-time activities which are for the improvement of the personal and social development of qualifying young persons in the authority’s area.

(4) References in the remaining provisions of this section to “positive leisure-time activities” are references to any activities falling within paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1).

(5) For the purposes of subsection (1) a local education authority may—

(a) provide facilities for positive leisure-time activities;

(b) assist others in the provision of such facilities;

(c) make arrangements for facilitating access for qualifying young persons to such facilities;

(d) organise positive leisure-time activities;

(e) assist others in the organisation of such activities;

(f) make arrangements for facilitating access for qualifying young persons to such activities;

(g) enter into agreements or make arrangements with any person in connection with anything done or proposed to be done under any of paragraphs (a) to (f);

(h) take any other action which the authority think appropriate.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5)—

(a) the provision mentioned in paragraph (a) may include establishing, maintaining and managing places at which facilities for positive leisure-time activities are provided;

(b) the assistance mentioned in paragraphs (b) and (e) may include the provision of financial assistance;

(c) the arrangements mentioned in paragraphs (c) and (f) may include the provision of transport, of financial assistance or of information to any person.

(7) Before taking any action for the purposes of subsection (1) (“the proposed action”), a local education authority must—

(a) consider whether it is expedient for the proposed action to be taken by another person, and

(b) where the authority consider that it is so expedient, take all reasonable steps to enter into an agreement or make arrangements with such a person for that purpose.

(8) For the purposes of subsection (7)(a) a local education authority must consult such persons as the authority think appropriate as to whether it is expedient for the proposed action to be taken by another person.

(9) In exercising their functions under this section a local education authority must—

(a) take steps to ascertain the views of qualifying young persons in the authority’s area about—

(i) positive leisure-time activities, and facilities for such activities, in the authority’s area;

(ii) the need for any additional such activities and facilities; and

(iii) access to such activities and facilities; and

(b) secure that the views of qualifying young persons in the authority’s area are taken into account.

(10) A local education authority in England must—

(a) publicise information about positive leisure-time activities, and facilities for such activities, in the authority’s area, and

(b) keep the information publicised under paragraph (a) up to date.

(11) A local education authority may charge in respect of anything provided by the authority under this section where the provision is to a qualifying young person (whether or not in the authority’s area).

(12) In exercising their functions under this section a local education authority must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.

(13) In this section—

• “recreation” includes physical training (and “recreational” is to be construed accordingly);

• “sufficient”, in relation to activities or facilities, means sufficient having regard to quantity;

• “well-being”, in relation to a person, means his well-being so far as relating to—

  (a)

  physical and mental health and emotional well-being;

  (b)

  protection from harm and neglect;

  (c)

  education, training and recreation;

  (d)

  the contribution made by him to society;

  (e)

  social and economic well-being.”

(2) Schedule 1 contains amendments related to the provision made by subsection (1).