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:

To increase access for those with a disability to the school curriculum

To ensure equality of all interested parties in accessing information provided by Co-op Academy  Friarswood

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.