Statutory guidance

Statutory guidance is guidance from governments. It is written to help agencies do what the law says they need to do. Education (schools, nurseries, colleges), health services and children’s services are all examples of agencies. Statutory guidance will explain which agencies the guidance is for.

The courts have said that agencies ‘must have regard’ to statutory guidance. This means they should follow it, unless there is good reason not to (R v Islington LBC ex p Rixon [1998] 1 CCLR 119).

Examples of statutory guidance that applies to children’s services departments include:

• Working Together to Safeguard Children
• Family and friends care: statutory guidance for local authorities.