Co-op Academy Priesthorpe

Accessibility Plan

This plan is drawn up in accordance with the planning duty in the Equality Act 2010, as amended by the SEN and Disability Code of Practice 2014. It draws on the guidance set out in ‘Accessible Schools: Planning to increase access to schools for disabled pupils’, issued by DfE in July 2002. This policy is published in compliance with paragraph 3 of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

Date created - 16/10/21 Date reviewed - 7/2/23 Next review date - 7/2/24

Contents

Policy details        1

Definition of Disability        2

Key objectivesPrinciples

Activity        3

Action Plan        4

Linked Policies

Appendix 1        5

Definition of Disability

Disability is defined by the Equality Act 2010:

“A person has a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.”

Key Objective

To reduce and eliminate barriers to access to the curriculum and to full participation in the school community for pupils, and prospective pupils, with a disability.

Principles

• Compliance with the Equality Act is consistent with the school’s aims and Equal Opportunities policy, and the operation of the school’s SEN policy;

• The academy recognises its duty under the Equality Act and SEND Code of Practice:

• not to discriminate against disabled pupils in their admissions and exclusions, and provision of education and associated services
• not to treat disabled pupils less favourably
• to take reasonable steps to avoid putting disabled pupils at a substantial disadvantage
• to publish an Accessibility Plan.

• In performing their duties, governors and staff will have regard to the Equality Act 2010 and the SEND Code of Practice 2014

• The academy recognises and values parents’ knowledge of their child’s disability and its effect on his/her ability to carry out normal activities, and respects the parents’ and child’s right to confidentiality;

• The academy provides all pupils with a broad and balanced curriculum, differentiated and adjusted to meet the needs of individual pupils and their preferred learning styles; and endorses the key principles in the National Curriculum 2000 framework, which underpin the development of a more inclusive curriculum:

• setting suitable learning challenges
• responding to pupils’ diverse learning needs
• overcoming potential barriers to learning and assessment for individuals and groups of pupils.

Activity

This section outlines the main activities which the academy will undertake, and is planning to undertake, to achieve the key objective (above).

1. Education & related activities

The academy will continue to seek and follow the advice of LEA services, such as specialist teacher advisers and SEN inspectors/advisers, and of appropriate health professionals from the local NHS Trusts.

2. Physical environment

The academy will take account of the needs of pupils and visitors with physical difficulties and sensory impairments when planning and undertaking future improvements and refurbishments of the site an

premises, such as improved access, lighting, acoustic treatment and colour schemes, and more accessible facilities and fittings.

3. Provision of information

The academy will make itself aware of local services, including those provided through the LEA, for providing information in alternative formats when required or requested.

4. Financial planning and control

The Principal with the Academy Leadership Team, together with the Finance Committee will review the financial implications of the Academy Accessibility Plan as part of the normal budget review process. The objective is that, over time, the Academy Accessibility Plan will be integrated into the Academy Development Plan.

Action Plan

See attached (Appendix)

Linked Policies

This Plan will contribute to the review and revision of related school policies, e.g.

• Academy Development Plan
• Staff training and development plan
• Building and site development plan
• SEND policy
• Equal Opportunities policy
• Curriculum policies
• Governor training plan

Appendix 1

Co-op Academy Priesthorpe Access Plan