Sections 2 to 4 – Basic concepts
13.These sections set out basic concepts that have effect in relation to a curriculum for the pupils and children described in section 1.
14.Section 3 lists the areas of learning and experience and the mandatory elements within them. The mandatory elements are English; Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE); Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE); and Welsh. But subsection (3) provides that English is not to be treated as being a mandatory element of a curriculum for:
a class in which most pupils are aged under seven, or
funded non-maintained nursery education, or
pupils and children aged under seven for whom education is provided in a pupil referral unit or otherwise under section 19A of the Education Act 1996 (discussed further below).