Accessibilty Policy

Accessibility Plan for Shawclough Community Primary School Updated December 2020 The SEN and Disability Act 2001 extended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) to cover education. Since September 2000, the Governing Body has had three key duties towards disabled pupils, under Part 4 of the DDA: 1. Not to treat disabled pupils less favourably for a reason related to their disability; 2. To make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils, so that they are not at a substantial disadvantage; 3. To plan to increase access to education for disabled pupils.

This plan sets out the proposals of the Governing Body of Shawclough to increase the access to education for disabled pupils in the three areas required by planning duties in the DDA: 1. Increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the school curriculum; 2. Improving the environment of the school to increase the extent to which disabled pupils can take advantage of education and associated services; 3. Improving the delivery to disabled pupils of information which, is provided in writing for pupils who are not disabled.

This plan will be resourced, implemented and reviewed and revised as necessary.

Attached are a set of action plans showing how the school will address the priorities identified in the plan.

The vision At Shawclough Community Primary School we are committed to providing a fully accessible environment and curriculum which values and includes all children and enables them to achieve their very best regardless of their education, physical, sensory, social, spiritual, emotional and cultural needs.

We aim to remove all barriers to ensure that every child can enjoy and fully participate in all aspects of school life and benefit from opportunities we provide.

The context Shawclough is a larger than average primary school situated in the north east of Rochdale.

In relation to the curriculum the following practices are currently in place: • There are established procedures in place for the identification and support of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (see SEND policy).

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Differentiated curriculum to enable all pupils to feel secure and make progress.

Regular home-school contact.

Teaching assistants employed to support in class.

Links with outside agencies.

Pupil information given to staff.

In relation to the physical environment we currently have: • • • • • •

Ramps in place to enable access into school Stair lifts Lowered kerbs Disabled access signs Disabled parking Wide doors into classrooms (with the exception of Jade, nursery and purple class)

As a school, we will annually review the schools strengths and areas for improvement when working with disabled pupils.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 defines disability as: “A person has a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities”.

Views of those consulted during the development of the plan • • •

Issue draft plan to all staff and governors for feedback.

Discuss the content of the plan with the children and invite feedback.

Share with the parents/carers of disabled children.

Management, coordination and implementation We share a whole school approach to meeting the requirements outlined in our accessibility plan and review the process on an annual basis. The review forms part of our school development planning process. We ensure that all staff receive training and support in meeting the requirements of the accessibility plan.

THE MAIN PRIORITIES •

Increasing the extent to which children and young people can participate in the school curriculum.

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Improving the physical environment of the school to increase the extent to which children and young people can take advantage of education and associated services.

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Improving the delivery to disabled pupils of information which is provided in writing for pupils who are not disabled.

Other policies and plans: • Equality, diversity and community cohesion policy • Shawclough SEND policy • Rochdale Local Offer • Shawclough Local Offer • Shawclough Information Report Access to the plan • •

On request from the school office On the schools ‘O’ drive