2021 No. 1418 (W. 368)
The Equality Act 2010 (Disabled School Pupils) (Wales) Regulations 2021
Made
Laid before Senedd Cymru
Coming into force
The Welsh Ministers in exercise of the powers in paragraphs 6B(3), 6C(4) and 6D(4) of Schedule 17 to the Equality Act 20101 make the following Regulations.
Title, commencement and interpretation1
1
The title of these Regulations is the Equality Act 2010 (Disabled School Pupils) (Wales) Regulations 2021.
2
These Regulations come into force on 5 January 2022.
3
In these Regulations, “the 2010 Act” means the Equality Act 2010.
4
Words and expressions used in these Regulations and in the 2010 Act have the same meaning as in that Act, except so far as a contrary intention appears.
Advice and information2
1
When making arrangements under paragraph 6B(1) of Schedule 17 to the 2010 Act to provide advice and information to disabled school pupils in its area, and the case friends2 of such pupils, a local authority must ensure that the advice and information is also provided to the parents of disabled school pupils in its area.
2
The arrangements must require the advice and information to include—
a
the rights of disabled school pupils under the 2010 Act relating to disability discrimination in schools,
b
the local authority’s duties under the 2010 Act relating to disability discrimination in schools,
c
how to access the local authority’s arrangements for resolving disagreements,
d
how to access independent advocacy services, and
e
how to bring a disability discrimination claim to the Education Tribunal for Wales.
3
The arrangements must ensure the advice and information is—
a
clear, factual and accurate, and
b
kept up to date.
Dispute resolution3
Before appointing a person for the purposes of paragraph 6C(2) of Schedule 17 to the 2010 Act, a local authority must be satisfied that the person they propose to appoint is—
a
sufficiently knowledgeable about the subject matter of Chapter 1 of Part 6 of the 2010 Act, and
b
independent of the local authority and the persons involved in any dispute.
Independent advocacy services4
1
Before making arrangements with a provider for the purposes of paragraph 6D of Schedule 17 to the 2010 Act, a local authority must be satisfied that the provider—
a
is sufficiently knowledgeable about the subject matter of Chapter 1 of Part 6 of the 2010 Act,
b
has the skills needed to communicate effectively with disabled school pupils, including those with communication difficulties,
c
is not on the children’s barred list, or, in the case of a provider working with young people, the adults’ barred list, and
d
will keep confidential records of the services provided under the arrangement.
2
For the purposes of this regulation—
a
“provider” means a person providing independent advocacy services;
b
“children’s barred list” and “adults’ barred list” mean the lists maintained by the Disclosure and Barring Service under section 2 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 20063.
(This note is not part of the Regulations)