UWC Atlantic Accessibility Plan 2025-2028

Accessibility Plan

UWC ATLANTIC ACCESSIBILITY PLAN CATEGORY

Finance & Estates

PLAN OWNER

Director Operations & Sustainability

DATE & VERSION

February 2025, Version 1.0

APPROVED BY

Finance & Estates Committee

REVIEW FREQUENCY

3 Yearly - To be reviewed February 2028

Accessibility Plan

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Accessibility Plan Contents

SECTION

CONTENT

PAGE NUMBER

1

Policy Purpose

3

2

Policy Statement

3

3

Policy Implementation

3

4

Related Information

6

5

Policy Measurement and Reporting

6

6

Appendices 1.​ Policy Implementation a.​ Legislation and Guidance b.​ Roles and Responsibilities c.​ Engagement d.​ Information from student Data and college Audit e.​ Staff Professional Learning f.​ Publishing and Monitoring Outcomes g.​ Links with other Policies/Plans h.​ Strategic Leadership 2.​ Accessibility Plan Improvement Priorities

Accessibility Plan

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Accessibility Plan 1.​ Policy Purpose The Accessibility Policy is intended to reduce and eliminate barriers to access the curriculum and to ensure full participation in the college community for students, prospective students, staff, volunteers and visitors with a disability.

2.​ Policy Statement UWC Atlantic fully recognises our duties and responsibilities to eliminate discrimination and promote equality for all learners, employees, members of the college community and service users regardless of protected characteristics.

The college’s mission is To make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future, which is aligned with the principles of the Equality Act (2010), namely to create a more equal and fair society by prohibiting discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity for all individuals. The college mission aims to ensure that diversity is celebrated in our college community.

We fully support the requirements of the Equality Act (2010) and the need for protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation of individuals with protected characteristics as set out in the 2010 Act. colleges are required under the Equality Act 2010 to have an Accessibility Plan.

To reduce and eliminate barriers to accessibility we have created and will implement an Accessibility Plan with significant stakeholder input. The Accessibility Plan has been informed by the views of learners, staff, governors and wider community so that it robustly addresses priorities for improvement and complements and supports the principles set out in the college’s Diversity and Equality Policy.

The Accessibility Plan has been developed around three planning duties to identify improvement priorities relating to how our college will: ●​ Increase the extent to which disabled students can participate in the curriculum; ●​ Improve the physical environment of UWC Atlantic to increase the extent to which disabled students can take advantage of education and associated services; ●​ Improve the physical environment of UWC Atlantic to remove any barriers or inequalities and increase the extent that disabled staff can fully participate in college activities; ●​ Improve communication with disabled students and staff, along with communicating to them any information that is provided in writing for students who are not disabled, in appropriate alternative formats and taking account of any preferences expressed by them or their parents.

The college aims to treat students and the whole college community fairly and with respect. This involves providing access and opportunities for all without discrimination of any kind. The college promotes equality of opportunity for persons with a disability

Accessibility Plan

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Accessibility Plan and, by promoting a positive ethos, aims to eliminate discrimination related to disability.

The plan will be made available online on the college website, and paper copies are available upon request. The college supports any available partnerships to develop and implement the plan. The Plan is subject to a rigorous monitoring and evaluation framework.

UWC Atlantic’s complaints procedure covers the accessibility plan. If you have any concerns relating to accessibility in college, this procedure sets out the process for raising these concerns.

The college is based around St Donat’s Castle, a 12th Century building that is Grade I listed for its architectural and historical importance. The nature of the building and the estate, which is in a steep valley, is such that it is not always possible to make alterations to facilitate access, although wherever possible, the facilities are adapted to widen access. Other existing mitigations include the choice of facilities for activities, using the most accessible options available.

3.​ Policy Implementation For full information on the policy and its implementation please see Appendix 1.

4.​ Other Relevant Information The Accessibility plan is linked to the following documents and policies: ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​

Diversity and Equality policy ALN and inclusive education Policy Medical policy Curriculum Policy Health and Safety Policy Anti–bullying Policy.

5.​ Policy Measurement and Reporting The college and governing body, will collect, analyse and publish information about our progress in achieving our improvement priorities as outlined in the Plan. These will be shared and published so that there is transparency and accountability. We will also aim to engage with our college community and wider partners to ensure that our Plan and the actions we take make a difference to the lives of disabled individuals in our college and to members of our college community.

The Accessibility Plan is monitored by the governing body.

Please see Appendix 2 for the improvement priorities and associated actions that UWC Atlantic has identified in our Accessibility Plan.

The plan and progress will be reviewed annually by the Finance & Estates Committee and progress will be reported by the Board of Governors. Comment will be sought

Accessibility Plan

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Accessibility Plan from the college’s Harmoni employee network or third party experts, should that be required Appendix 1. Policy Implementation 1.​ Legislation and Guidance The Accessibility Plan meets the requirements of Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 which places a statutory duty upon colleges to prepare an Accessibility Plan at least every three years.

The Equality Act defines an individual as disabled if they have: a) a physical or mental impairment, and b) the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Under the Act, ‘substantial’ is defined as an adverse effect that is greater than having a minor impact and ‘long-term’ is defined as a year/12 months or more.

Colleges have a duty to provide reasonable adjustments which will enable disabled students to participate fully in their education at college and enjoy the other benefits, facilities and services/activities that college provides alongside non disabled peers.

As an employer, the College also has a duty to provide reasonable adjustments to its employees, as mandated by Section 20 and 21 of the Act. Similar to reasonable adjustments for students, the aim is to take steps to ensure disabled employees are not put at a substantial disadvantage in their work environment.

2.​ Roles and Responsibilities The lead for the Accessibility Plan in UWC Atlantic is the Director of Operations & Sustainability.

2.1 Board of Governors To ensure compliance with the Act, the governing body: ●​ ensures that the college publishes its three year accessibility plan; ●​ makes appropriate arrangements to monitor the plan’s progress and effectiveness on at least an annual basis and issue a new plan on a rolling three-year basis; ●​ will publish information about the plan in the governors’ annual report to parents; ●​ works in partnership with the college Leadership Team to complete the Accessibility Audit Tool for college and pre-college settings to inform the Accessibility Plan; ●​ undertakes regular training in disability equality issues and inclusion.

In order to meet its reporting responsibility, the governing body reports on the progress of the Accessibility Plan annually, as part of its Annual Report to Parents/Carers.

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Accessibility Plan 2.2 Leadership Team The college Leadership Team promotes accessibility and eliminates discrimination by undertaking a cycle of development, implementation and review of their accessibility plan as follows: ●​ Auditing/Reviewing the outcomes of previous plans and completing an Accessibility Audit Tool to identify barriers to accessibility. ●​ Consulting with a range of stakeholders. ●​ Ensuring that the plan clearly identifies the college’s short, medium and long term desired outcomes and improvement priorities with clear implementation arrangements and timescales. ●​ Set specific and measurable targets/goals with clear timescales for evaluation. ●​ Implementing the accessibility plan and allocating adequate resources to support its implementation. ●​ Ensuring that a framework is in place, with an annual review of the plan in consultation with stakeholders to evaluate its success. ●​ Ensuring that all staff are aware of the Accessibility Plan, receive regular training in disability equality issues and inclusion and promote equality of access and opportunity for disabled learners.

3.​ Engagement The UWC Atlantic College Accessibility Plan has been developed through consultation with students, staff, governors and other relevant stakeholders that contribute to the whole college community.

An extensive range of different engagement activities have been undertaken to inform strategic plans. These include: ●​ An analysis of focus groups feedback on equality issues from a range of stakeholders including learners, staff, governors and the wider community.

Some consideration was given to the analysing information according to protected characteristics to inform strategic planning; ●​ Student voice activities and student council feedback; ●​ An analysis of college complaints; ●​ Feedback from annual review processes; and ●​ Outcomes from community events and activities.

When consulting, important consideration has been given to the most effective and reliable means of gathering information. In addition to the two-week EAL programme for new students, additional interpretation facilities may need to be put in place for those for whom English is an additional language, including parents. Modified materials and accessible formats have also been used to ensure accessibility for those with disabilities or ALN. 4.​ Information from student Data and college Audit To inform the preparation of our Accessibility Plan, we have undertaken a review of the progress made in relation to the improvement priorities and actions identified in

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Accessibility Plan our previous accessibility plan. In addition, we have used the Accessibility Audit Tool to identify remaining barriers to accessibility and to inform specific and measurable actions we can take to address them.

The college’s self-evaluation and college improvement planning processes have also informed the Plan and include analysis of student data where relevant 5.​ Staff Professional Learning UWC Atlantic is also committed to ensuring staff receive ongoing training in equality issues with reference to the Equality Act 2010, including understanding accessibility and disability issues and the social model of disability. Specific training needs are identified by staff and their line managers in this area during the performance management process. This is routinely undertaken on an annual basis and outcomes contribute to our professional learning plans in the college.

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Accessibility Plan Appendix 2 UWC Atlantic ACCESSIBILITY PLAN FOR 2024-2027 Date of Issue: February 2025 First review of the Accessibility Plan: February 2026 Final Review of the Accessibility Plan: February 2028 Improvement Priority 1: Improving access to the curriculum

Long, medium or short-term

Outcome

Action to ensure outcome

Person responsible

Curriculum is adapted to more fully meet the needs of disabled students.

Develop the Student Academic Board (SAB) to harness student voice on accessibility to the curriculum.

Vice Principal Academics

Medium Term

Disabled students have a means to raise relevant issues amongst the wider student body and leadership team through a targeted

Recruit disability representatives, including representatives for neurodiversity, to the ARDEI student group.

Vice Principal Student Life

Medium Term

Accessibility Plan

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Completion date

Monitoring & evidence

Impact statement/ evaluation

June 2025

SAB minutes Student survey feedback

The curriculum will be fully accessible to all students regardless of ability/disability.

June 2025

ARDEI minutes ARDEI membership

Issues for students with accessibility needs are identified and addressed.

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Costings & resources

Accessibility Plan approach.

Students with access requirements are able to access the curriculum.

All staff to complete class context plans to identify strategies to support learners with access requirements.

Disabled students can see themselves represented in case studies and examples being taught through the curriculum.

Co-curricular leaders to ensure appropriate access to co-curricular activities for students with

Accessibility Plan

Short Term

October 2025

Class context plans Student progress data

Progress measures in expected learning outcomes for disabled students matches progress measures for the cohort. Results and academic performance for EAL and ALN students is provided to the Board and compared to the whole student population.

Curriculum updates/reviews to include content that is representative of people with lived experiences of disability.

Long Term

August 2026

Curriculum planning documentation Minutes of Faculty Development Group meetings

Curriculum includes a broader range of real life examples representing disabled people.

Strategies to support students with access requirements to be included in planning for co-curricular activities.

Medium Term

June 2025

CAS, project week and conference planning and provision documentation

Co-curricular opportunities will be fully accessible to all students regardless of ability/disability.

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Vice Principal Academics

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TLC support to help students with access requirement

Accessibility Plan access requirements.

Students with access requirements to have control over the sharing of what is shared with CAS leaders.

s to co-author guidance for CAS leads or to share relevant sections of IDPs.

.

Completion date

Costings & resources

Monitoring & evidence

Impact statement/ evaluation

Not known

£27.5m

DTM minutes and developed design

The Education Hub will be designed and built to be fully accessible to all staff and students and to meet high standards of wellness and be mindful of those with visual, auditory needs and other sensitivities.

Improvement Priority 2: Improving access to the college site/physical environment

Outcome

Action to ensure outcome

Person responsible

Fully accessible Education Hub, meeting the Well Standard

Consideration of the DDA and Well standard in DTM.

Director of Operations & Sustainability and Building Maintenance Manager

Accessibility Plan

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Long, medium or short-term

Long Term

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Accessibility Plan Student House refurbishments with fully accessible bathrooms

Consideration of DDA in DTM meetings

Director of Operations & Sustainability and Building Maintenance Manager

Long Term

Dec 2029

£8.5m

DTM minutes and developed design

Boarding houses will have fully accessible bathrooms to meet the needs of students with access requirements.

Review of Health Centre accessibility

Consideration of swapping a consultation room and upstairs bedroom to create an accessible bedroom

BMM

Short term

August 2026

£20k

Completed project

Overnight HC accommodation will be available to all future students

Improved disabled car parking and signage

Campus masterplan work to consider car parking and access throughout campus.

Director of Operations & Sustainability and Building Maintenance Manager

Long term

2029

Unknown

Completed works

Aiding access around campus for disabled visitors, staff and students

Head of Atlantic Experience and

Medium term

2027

Unknown

Completed works

Removing barriers to swimming for all

Resurfacing of disabled bays in visitor car park.

Improved signage to direct those in need around campus.

Improved access to swimming pool

Accessibility Plan

Commissioning of the pool lifting equipment.

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Accessibility Plan

Review of access to changing rooms.

Building Maintenance Manager

swimmers.

SOP for the pool changing for affected swimmers Lifting equipment for the outdoor pool.

Introduction of strobes to fire alarm systems as systems are upgraded

Strobe systems to be installed in all fire zones, starting with student residences.

Building Maintenance Manager and Facilities Services Manager

Long Term

2032

Unknown

Completed works

Ensuring safe evacuation of all student houses and, subsequently, all teaching and other buildings for hearing impaired staff, students and visitors.

Check accessible toilets in students houses

Review of DDA compliant bathrooms in all student residences

Building Maintenance Manager

Short Term

2025

Unknown

Completed review and identification of needs

Reducing restrictions on which student residences can be used for students with accessibility issues.

Introduction of separate low sensory areas for students and staff

Use of the Breakfast Room as an alternative dining venue.

Director of Operations and Sustainability, Building Maintenance Manager and

Short Term

2025

Unknown

Availability of quiet spaces and use by neurodivergen t staff and students.

Provision of a quiet place for dining and retreat by neurodivergent staff and students.

Identification and

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Accessibility Plan optimisation of other Facilities spaces for use by Services neurodiverse staff and Manager students.

Staff survey results.

Review of campus lighting.

Changes to counter heights in the servery

Reduction in some servery counter heights to provide better access to all food options for wheelchair users

Director Operations & Sustainability, Building Maintenance Manager and Head of Catering

Medium Term

2027

Unknown

Completed works and feedback from users

Easier use of servery for wheelchair users

Review of accessibility through the castle to maintain access at all times

Conduct a review of existing accessibility measures in the castle, including bathrooms and emergency systems and evacuation.

Facilities Services Manager and Vice Principal Academics

Short Term

2025

Unknown

Completed review

Improved access to the castle and castle teaching spaces will remove barriers to those with mobility issues.

Improved operating procedures

Identification of accessible castle teaching spaces.

Accessibility Plan

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Accessibility Plan Design a furniture purchasing process to include consideration of disabilities.

Review and revise the procurement process to ensure consideration of DDA and the needs of those with disabilities in all furniture procurements.

Facilities Services Manager and Strategic Procurement Manager

Short Term

2025

Review of the needs and expectations for braille signage

Understand the legislation and guidance around braille signage and develop a plan to incorporate into all new signage and existing signage that should also be addressed.

Facilities Services Manager and Building Maintenance Manager

Medium Term

2026

Unknown

Completed review and plan for adoption of braille signage.

Removal of barriers to visually impaired service users.

Introduction of regular communication with students and staff

Introduction of bi-annual or annual reporting on the Accessibility Plan and progress.

Director of Operations & Sustainability and Head of Communication s

Short Term

2025

Unknown

Increased frequency of stakeholder engagement and communicatio n.

All service users are informed of the rate of change and future accessibility improvement plans.

Version 1

Completed review Improved procurement procedures

Annual or bi-annual stakeholder engagement with

Accessibility Plan

Unknown

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Removal of barriers created by poor furniture layouts or inappropriate furniture.

Accessibility Plan service users.

Introduction of visitor accessibility awareness on Eventbrite.

Business Development Manager

Improvement Priority 3: Improving access to information

Outcome

Action to ensure outcome

Person responsible

College website is accessible to as many people as possible including videos.

Met the WCAG 2.2 accessibility standard https://www.w3.org/T R/WCAG22/

Head of Communications , Head of ICT Operations

Accessibility Plan

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Long, medium or short-term

Medium

Completion date

Costings & resources

Completed

Part of website costings

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Monitoring & evidence

Impact statement/ evaluation I have chased the website provider for the statement (see below) There is no certificate you can get for accessibility, but you can use this free online checker: (However, these aren't always 100% accurate though, so keep that in mind) https://www.accessibilityc hecker.org/audit/?website =https%3A%2F%2Fwww. uwcatlantic.org%2F&flag=

Accessibility Plan uk

We are aware of the 2 items highlighted: 1. A contrast ratio is failing on the 'GIVE' button, but this was agreed during the design phase,it was accepted at Level A vs Level AA (So not really a big problem in our view, since it's only 1 button)

2. There are missing alt tags on images. This can all easily be fixed in Prismic by adding the alt text ( I have started to add in all alt tags to images so

Accessibility Plan

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Accessibility Plan this should improve our score with the online checker) Policies

All policy documents to include accessibility support options, including reader and magnifier support. Alternative accessible versions to be made available

Head of Communications , Admin Assistant Operations

Short

Site access guide on the website/eventbrite

Create and upload a site access guide to the college website and Eventbrite so all visitors can be aware of site accessibility issues prior to booking/visiting

Head of Communications , Business Development Manager

Short

Accessibility Plan

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Completed

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0

All our policies are hosted on Issuu that allows the user to magnify the content. (this is the Uni of South Wales accessibility statement and they use Issuu

Do you have an best practice example of a site access guide so we can review. As you know we have the maps used by AX and UWCA ?