Disability and Accessibility Plan 2023-2026
Disability and Accessibility Plan
2023 – 2026
Introduction
This plan was drawn up in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and the SEN and Disability Act 2001 (SENDA).
Definition of Disability
Co-op Academy Friarswood uses The Equality Act definition of disability.
You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.
- ‘substantial’ is more than minor or trivial, eg it takes much longer than it usually would to complete a daily task like getting dressed
- ‘long-term’ means 12 months or more, eg a breathing condition that develops as a result of a lung infection
The definition includes a wide range of impairments, including hidden impairments such as dyslexia, autism, speech and language impairments, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These are all likely to amount to a disability, but only if the effect on the person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities is substantial and long term, as defined above.
The effect on normal day-to-day activities is on one or more of the following:
∙ Mobility
∙ Manual dexterity
∙ Physical co-ordination
∙ Continence
∙ Ability to lift, carry or move everyday objects
∙ Memory or ability to concentrate, learn and understand
∙ Perception of risk of physical danger
Key Objectives
To reduce and, where possible, eliminate barriers to accessing the curriculum and for pupils to have full participation within the school community.
Principles
Compliance with The Equality Act is consistent with our aims. At Co-op Academy Friarswood, we aim to provide a secure, inclusive and purposeful environment to learn and work in. All our pupils, staff, members of the community and visitors should feel valued, cared for, listened to and encouraged to challenge themselves to achieve their full potential.
Co-op Academy Friarswood recognises its duty under the The Equality Act to:
• not discriminate against disabled pupils in their admissions and provision of education and associated services.
• not treat disabled people less favourably
• take reasonable steps to avoid putting disabled pupils at a substantial
disadvantage.
• publish an Accessibility Plan.
Co-op Academy Friarswood recognises and values parent’s 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.
Co-op Academy Friarswood provides all pupils with a broad and balanced curriculum, differentiated and adjusted to meet the needs of individual pupils and their preferred learning styles to support the development of an inclusive curriculum. This includes:
• Setting suitable learning challenges.
• Responding to pupil’s diverse learning needs
• Overcoming potential barriers to learning and assessment for individual groups of pupils.
Staff Awareness of Disability
The teaching staff have received outline training on the expectations of the DDA. Individual staff have received training and support regarding the needs of the following groups of children:
∙ Visually impaired
∙ Autistic
∙ Dyslexic
∙ Diabetic
The SENDCo has delivered a variety of staff training updates and has been supported by the SEND advisors.
Education and related activities
a) Curriculum: Co-op Academy Friarswood will continue to seek and follow the advice of the SENDS services, such as specialist teacher advisors and SEND advisors and of appropriate health professionals and from local NHS Trusts.
b) Physical environment: Co-op Academy Friarswood 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 and premises.
c) Provision of information: Co-op Academy Friarswood will make itself aware of local services, including those provided through the Trust and the LA, for providing information in alternative formats when required or requested.
Contextual Information
Co-op Academy Friarswood has just over 200 pupils on roll. We are a one form entry school with a part time nursery. We have a care club which runs before and after school. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for Free School Meals is below average. The school comprises of one large building with 2 floors and is set in large grounds which are on an incline. Access to the vast majority of the school and every classroom and toilet block is via steps although we have ramp access to enter into the main entrance of the building.
There are many steps at the back of the building to access the playground due to the sloping grounds. There is a steep ramp from the back entrance of the school down to the playground. At present we do not have any wheelchair dependent pupils, parents or members of staff. An accessible toilet is available in the main entrance.
To increase access for those with a disability to the physical environment of Co-op Academy Friarswood:
ACTION | SUCCESS CRITERIA | LEAD PERSON / GROUP | TIMESCALE | REVIEW |
To ensure the needs of disabled pupils, staff, governors, parents and visitors are known. | Needs will be known so that any reasonable adjustments can be made. | SENDCo | Ongoing | Termly |
To assess needs of pupils and create care plans if required. | If required a care plan will be implemented. | SENDCo & class teacher | Ongoing | Annually |
To improve the access for visually impaired people | Yellow strip marks to mark all steps to class rooms and toilets as well as yellow markings on steps outside. | Site staff | Ongoing checks | Termly |
To increase access for those with a disability to the school curriculum
ACTION | SUCCESS CRITERIA | LEAD PERSON / GROUP | TIMESCALE | REVIEW |
Ensure that staff have training on disability issues | Staff will be confident to support all children including those with disabilities | SENDCo & Headteacher | As soon as possible with regards to the needs of the child | By the end of the term in which the child arrives to the school. |
Include specific analysis of disabled pupil’s achievements | Tracking system identifies children with a disability and | SENDCo & Headteacher | Ongoing | Termly |
and progress in whole school tracking system. | ensures appropriate intervention and equal access to the curriculum. | |||
Use ICT to support learning. | Correct software will be available to enable ICT to be used | Computer lead Liaise with SENDCo and class teacher | As soon as is possible once we know the needs of the child. | Termly |
To ensure that educational visits are accessible for all children. | All children are able to access visits and provisions are put in place to enable this to happen. | All staff | Ongoing | Annually |
To ensure equality of all interested parties in accessing information provided by Co-op Academy Friarswood
ACTION | SUCCESS CRITERIA | LEAD PERSON / GROUP | TIMESCALE | REVIEW |
Letters and communication of key information will continue to be made available by a telephone call when requested | Parents unable to access written print will receive up-to-date information via telephone. The website has an option to change the language display. | All staff | ongoing | Annually |
Parents with dyslexia will continue to receive key information presented in an accessible format when requested. | Parents are kept up-to-date regarding key issues regardless of their disability | All staff | ongoing | Annually |
All school policies will continue to be available in alternative formats on request. | Parents feel informed and report that they can access information with ease. | SENDCo / all staff | ongoing | Annually |
School reports will continue to be available verbally by the class teacher should this be requested. | Parents with visual impairments can access key reports and feel actively involved in their child’s learning. | Class teachers | ongoing | Annually |
To provide information in other languages for pupils who may have English as an Additional language. | All parents and children will be able to access information in their language. The school website has an option to change the language. | Class teachers when necessary | ongoing | Annually |
Policy Agreed on: September 2023
Signed Headteacher: Mrs L Wilmer
Signed Chair of Governors: Mrs C Sellars
Review Date: September 2026
All people will be treated equally including those within the nine protected characteristics.
Co-op Academy Friarswood is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people / vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, visitors and volunteers to share this commitment.