Here are the main findings from the project:
Too many pupils still have a major battle getting a place at their local school. 35% of pupils that want to go to their local school find that it is not accessible. Pupils spend too long getting to school. Journey times are too long and three quarters of those that use special transport arrive late every day. Special transport is not flexible. Pupils cannot join classmates in after-school activities because accessible transport and adult help is not available. Access in school is still poor. 70% of pupils miss part of each class because of the difficulties getting around school.
There is little inclusion of wheelchair users in sports/PE lessons and a lack of equipment. Teenage wheelchair users that are keen to keep fit presently have to undertake sport out of school. Sex education is not tailored for pupils with disabilities and is often taught insensitively. There are almost no role models in the form of teachers who use wheelchairs, or positive images of disability in school textbooks. Many wheelchair users have specific learning difficulties and are placed in the lowest set, with pupils who are disruptive. This hinders their ability to learn and means that a large proportion of them leave school without qualifications.
School trips are a major problem area. 80% of pupils that cannot stand miss school trips because of lack of early planning by the school.
Assistants, who help pupils get around in school, are not teachers but are often expected to teach disabled pupils. More learning support is needed.
Wheelchair users that cannot walk are never able go on school trips abroad. (Unless parents go too)
Staff at all levels in school, including the SENCO, need more training about disability and integration.
Poor provision of equipment in school hinders independence. Safety is overemphasised in schools at the expense of independence.
Copies of the Are We Nearly There Yet? 31 page report and an action card, price ÂŁ3, can be ordered from: arewenearlythereyet@btopenworld.com Or phone/fax 0161 449 9631 Cheques payable to: Eleni Burgess, 58 Lower Fold, Marple Bridge, Stockport, SK6 5DU
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