Collection

Schools: statutory guidance

The Department for Education’s statutory guidance publications for schools and local authorities.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 11 March 2014
• Last updated: 19 November 2021 — See all updates

Statutory guidance sets out what schools and local authorities must do to comply with the law. You should follow the guidance unless you have a very good reason not to.

There is some guidance that you must follow without exception. In these cases we make this clear in the guidance document itself.

These publications reflect the current legal position (unless otherwise indicated), but may not reflect the current government’s policies.

For guidance on assessments, view Standard and Testing Agency (STA) publications.

Administration and finance

• Change of land use due to an academy conversion
  • 17 December 2010
  • Statutory guidance
• Home-to-school travel
  • 29 June 2023
  • Statutory guidance
• Transport to education and training for people aged 16 and over
  • 28 January 2019
  • Statutory guidance
• Schemes for financing schools
  • 31 March 2023
  • Statutory guidance
• Schools causing concern
  • 10 July 2023
  • Statutory guidance
• Cost of school uniforms
  • 19 November 2021
  • Statutory guidance

Admissions

• School admissions code
  • 11 March 2022
  • Statutory guidance
• School admission appeals code
  • 20 January 2023
  • Statutory guidance

Behaviour and attendance

• Alternative provision
  • 27 June 2016
  • Statutory guidance
• Behaviour and discipline in schools: guide for governing bodies
  • 24 September 2015
  • Statutory guidance
• Children missing education
  • 5 September 2016
  • Statutory guidance
• School behaviour and attendance: parental responsibility measures
  • 29 May 2020
  • Statutory guidance
• School suspensions and permanent exclusions
  • 1 September 2023
  • Statutory guidance

Curriculum

• National curriculum in England: framework for key stages 1 to 4
  • 2 December 2014
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: primary curriculum
  • 6 May 2015
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: secondary curriculum
  • 2 December 2014
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: English programmes of study
  • 16 July 2014
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: mathematics programmes of study
  • 28 September 2021
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: science programmes of study
  • 6 May 2015
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: art and design programmes of study
  • 11 September 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: citizenship programmes of study
  • 11 September 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: computing programmes of study
  • 11 September 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: design and technology programmes of study
  • 11 September 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: geography programmes of study
  • 11 September 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: history programmes of study
  • 11 September 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: languages programmes of study
  • 11 September 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: music programmes of study
  • 26 March 2021
  • Statutory guidance
• National curriculum in England: PE programmes of study
  • 11 September 2013
  • Statutory guidance

Early years foundation stage

• Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework
  • 4 September 2023
  • Statutory guidance

Governance

• Constitution of governing bodies of maintained schools
  • 29 August 2017
  • Statutory guidance
• School Governance (Collaboration) Regulations 2003
  • 1 September 2003
  • Statutory guidance

Looked-after children

• Designated teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children
  • 26 February 2018
  • Statutory guidance
• Directors of children’s services: roles and responsibilities
  • 8 April 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• Children Act 1989: transition to adulthood for care leavers
  • 1 February 2022
  • Statutory guidance
• Children Act 1989: fostering services
  • 3 July 2015
  • Statutory guidance
• Children’s homes regulations, including quality standards: guide
  • 6 March 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Safeguarding children and young people

• Keeping children safe in education
  • 1 September 2023
  • Statutory guidance
• Working together to safeguard children
  • 1 July 2022
  • Statutory guidance
• Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation
  • 30 July 2020
  • Statutory guidance
• Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006
  • 31 August 2018
  • Statutory guidance
• Promoting the education of looked-after and previously looked-after children
  • 26 February 2018
  • Statutory guidance
• Supervision of activity with children
  • 10 September 2012
  • Statutory guidance
• Children Act 1989: court orders
  • 17 April 2014
  • Statutory guidance
• Children Act 1989: care planning, placement and case review
  • 8 July 2021
  • Statutory guidance

Special educational / health needs

• Education for children with health needs who cannot attend school
  • 17 May 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years
  • 30 April 2020
  • Statutory guidance
• Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school
  • 16 August 2017
  • Statutory guidance

Staff employment and teachers pay

• Induction for newly qualified teachers (NQTs)
  • 19 April 2021
  • Statutory guidance
• Initial teacher training (ITT): criteria and supporting advice
  • 26 October 2023
  • Statutory guidance
• School teachers' pay and conditions
  • 13 October 2023
  • Statutory guidance

Schools and colleges careers guidance

• Participation of young people: education, employment and training
  • 20 October 2016
  • Statutory guidance
• Careers guidance and access for education and training providers
  • 5 January 2023
  • Statutory guidance

Published 11 March 2014
Last updated 19 November 2021 + show all updates

1. 19 November 2021

   Added 'Cost of school uniforms'.

2. 10 August 2017

   Added 'School teachers' pay and conditions' statutory guidance for 2017.

3. 10 November 2016

   Added 2017 assessment and reporting arrangements for key stage 1, key stage 2 and the early years foundation stage.

4. 10 August 2016

   Added 'School teachers' pay and conditions 2016' under the 'Staff employment and teachers pay' heading.

5. 4 April 2016

   Added 'Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation'.

6. 10 August 2015

   Added the 2015 school teachers' pay and conditions document and guidance.

7. 26 March 2015

   Added updated 'Keeping children safe in education' and 'Working together to safeguard children' guidance.

8. 26 February 2015

   Added statutory guidance on 'Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006'.

9. 1 September 2014

   Added medical conditions statutory guidance.

10. 28 August 2014

    Added the 'SEND: managing changes to legislation from September 2014' document.

11. 8 August 2014

    Added the 2014 school teachers' pay and conditions document and guidance.

12. 23 July 2014

    Added 'Promoting the education of looked-after children' statutory guidance.

13. 18 July 2014

    Updated 'Home to school travel and transport' statutory guidance.

14. 16 July 2014

    Added link to 'P scales: attainment targets for pupils with SEN'.

15. 15 May 2014

    Added statutory guidance on the 'Constitution of governing bodies of maintained schools'.

16. 31 March 2014

    Added link to revised 'Early years foundation stage framework' which comes into force on 1 September 2014.

17. 11 March 2014

    First published.