PED6921 - Teachers and the Law

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1 Demonstrate a working knowledge of the professional, contractual and statutory responsibilities of teachers.
2 Have a working knowledge of requirements and procedures for the development and maintenance of links with parents and other agencies
3 Be aware of legal requirements and good practice on safeguarding children in school and on educational visits. Understand issues related to child welfare, inclusion, health and safety etc.

Content:

This module aims to provide trainees with the professional knowledge pertinent to the regulatory and legal framework of primary education, to their contractual and professional responsibilities, and to pupils’ needs and differences.

• To include a review of key legislation over recent years, consideration of the teachers’ contract of employment and introduction to teachers’ conditions of service, a review of who’s who in education, and reference to the QTS standards, CRB checks and List 99, GTC membership and codes of conduct for teachers.
• To include a consideration of the relationship schools have with OFSTED and issues raised in relation to school governance.
• To include a review of Health & Safety Legislation / school H&S policy documents and do’s and don’ts for educational visits and taking children out of school.
• To reflect on what types of partnerships teachers establish with parents/carers and analyse how students might develop their own strategies for working with parents and children to support pastoral and emotional development in school. To consider the statutory obligations regarding record keeping and reporting to parents/carers
• Child Welfare - Protecting children from abuse, physical contact with children and restraint and the law as it refers to detention.
NB: There are strong links to be made with the SEN taught module particularly with regard to working with other adults and links with parents and also to the assessments taught module in relation to reporting procedures.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Workshop sessions will involve trainees in practical activities involved with teaching and learning and evaluation. Lectures will involve trainees in interactive discussion and analysis of sources and key concepts. Tutorials will involve trainees in small group and individual discussion focusing on analysis and synthesis. Time allocated to each is appropriate to the module delivered, eg. PE all workshop; professional studies workshop 50%, tutorial 50%

Workshops, lectures and tutorials
Contact hours: 20 as per programme diagram
Number of Groups: 2

Assessment: