THE CHILDREN'S ACT AND SCHOOLS

This is a practical guide to applying the Children Act 1989 (which came into effect in 1991) in the educational context. The 1989 Children Act states that the welfare of the child is paramount. This is the case not only regarding parental/family issues, but also in education. However, this welfare principle does not sit easily with a market economy within schools, where the emphasis is on competition, performance and success. This book is intended to help all those involved in education to work through some of the issues which the 1989 Act raises for schools; for example, the law regarding absenteeism from schools or how children's rights could be better reflected in schools. This book aims to promote good practice and thereby ensure that the welfare of the child is enhanced.