Commentary on Sections Part 6 Supplementary Section 64 - Duty to promote knowledge and understanding of UN Conventions on the rights of children and persons with disabilities
144.Section 64 imposes various requirements in respect of the UNCRC (the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) and the UNCRPD (the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities).
145.Subsection (1) requires the head teacher and governing body of a maintained school or of a maintained nursery school to promote knowledge and understanding of the UNCRC, and the UNCRPD, among people who provide teaching and learning in respect of the school’s curriculum. This would include (but not necessarily be limited to) teachers employed at the school.
146.But this duty will not apply in relation to (for instance) people who provide teaching and learning at the school that has nothing to do with the curriculum, such as in evening classes open to the local community.
147.Subsection (2) imposes an equivalent duty in the context of FNNE; in this context the duty is placed on the provider of the FNNE.
148.Subsections (3) and (4) impose equivalent duties in respect of PRUs and other EOTAS. In the context of a PRU, the duty is placed on the local authority, the management committee (if there is one) and the teacher in charge of the PRU. In the context of non-PRU EOTAS, the duty is placed upon the local authority that makes arrangements for the EOTAS.