DISABILITY EQUALITY SCHEME AND POLICY – ACCESSIBILITY 2014-2017

Accepted by Governors-Autumn 2014

To be reviewed Autumn-2017

YSGOL SANTES HELEN

DISABILITY EQUALITY POLICY AND PLAN- 2014-2017

This policy is the responsibility of the Governing body of the above school.

Review date October 12 th 2017.

1.Legal Framework

1aThe Disability Equality Responsibility is a new obligation within the Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005 where schools are required to take pro-active mesaures to ensure that pupils, staff, governors, parents/guardians and other disabled people who make use of the school receive equal treatment.

There are 2 elements to theDisability Equality Responsibility:

i) The General Responsibility:

  • Promote equal opportunity between disabled people and others
  • Eliminate illegal discrimination
  • Eliminate harrassment linked to disability
  • Promote positive aspects towards the disabled
  • Encourage the disabled to participate in public life
  • Meet disabled people’s needs (even if it means better treatment)

ii) The Specific Responsibility:

  • Prepare a Disability Equality Scheme

1bDefine Disability

(including cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV, MS, Hearing or visual impairment, mobility, mental health conditions, learning difficulties)

“Disability is a physical or mental impairmentthat has a significant and long-term harmful impact on an individual’s capacity to fulfil routine day to day activities” (DDA 1995 Part 1 para. 1.1). This definition was amended and expanded in December 2005 under the 2005 Amended Disability Act:-

  • People with cancer or who have survived cancer are now included, as are people who have HIV and spreading paralysis as regards diagnosis.
  • There is no longer a need for mental impairment to be clinically identified.

Significant implies more than minor or inconsequential.

Long-term implies an impairment that has lasted at least 12 months, or that is likely to last 12 months or for the rest of an individual’s life.

Normal day to day activities cover the following categories:

bobility; manual dexterity; physical co-ordination; self-control; ability to lift, transport or otherwise move everyday objects; speech, oracy, hearing or vision; memory or ability to focus, learn or comprehend; perceive physical harm.

Equality of Disability in Education (DEE) recommends that every ALN pupil and the parents with long-term medical needs should be treated as being disabled for the purposes of the Act and in the interests of equality. This is in addition to all pupils with a long-term impairment, that has a significant impact on their day to day activities.

This school uses the “social model” of disability and “recognizes that disability is not caused by the individuals, but by the physical, environmental and attitude obstacles present in the education system and within society in general”.

2.Ysgol Santes Helen

2a.Size and location:

See plan of the school

2b.General information about pupils and staff:

Pupil numbers:73.

Staff Numbers: 3 teachers, Foundation Phase assistants, ALN assistants

2c.Current representation of disabled (pupils, staff, Governors should be included)

Number of disabled pupil according to the above definition .

2ch.Contacts with neighbouring schools and the wider community

As it is a Catholic school, it has close links with the parish.

This school has links with the other primary schools within the catchment-area and with Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, Ysgol Brynrefail. In addition, students are from time to time received from GwyneddTraining, Coleg Menai and UCNW Bangor.

The school has a prominent role in the community and meetings are held at the school and Local events. The school is also used as a polling station.

2d.School’s statement of commitment to equality

The school has a commitment to racial, language, cultural, religious and disability equality.

2dd.Links with policies and other schemes

This scheme should be interpreted alongside the following policies and schemes:

Admissions Scheme, Racial Equality Scheme, Equal Opportunities Policy, Additional Learning Needs Policy, Anti-Bullying.

3.Scheme Development:

3aContributions:

A scheme will also be considered by staff, school council and school Governors as well as members of the public that it is felt would be beneficial to include. Gwynedd Council’s Admissions Officer will also contribute to the Scheme.

3bInformation gathering

The impact of school policies and practices on the disabled, especially on recruitment, development and retention of disabled workers.

The educational opportunities open to them and disabled pupils achievements including access to school trips, participation in after school activities, work experience etc.

3c.How the information is used

Any relevant information gathered is used to review this scheme and any required changes to the provision are based on this.

3chPlanning Responsibilities

Ysgol Santes Helen’s admissions policy complies with Section 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act outlining measures taken to improve over time the school’s physical environment for disabled pupils, their access to the curriculum and how the information is transferred to them. These measures are separately noted within this Disability Equality Scheme Action Plan.

4.Action Plan

i)Planning Responsibilities (Admissions Scheme)

The Admission Scheme considers:

  • Physical Access
  • Curriculum Access
  • Access to information

ii)Promoting equal opportunity

iii)Eliminating illegal discrimination

iv)Eliminate disability linked to harassment

v)Promoting positive attitudes towards the disabled

vi)Encourage the disabled to participate in public life

vii)Cater for the needs of the disabled (even if this implies more favourable treatment)

5.Report Annually

Information is annually provided through the Handbook/Annual Report on physical developments to the building, specifically for the disabled.

6.Procurement

Many functions and services in schools are now put out to tender to private, charitable or voluntary establishments. The school ensure when tendering out services that they include disability equalityin their agreements and that the contractor fulfils his disability equality contractual obligations.

7.Review

The Scheme is reviewed and amended at least every 3 years.

Date accepted by the Governors______

Signed______

Chairman

Signed

Headteacher______

Review date- Autumn term 2017.

2011 – 2017 ACTION PLAN

1.PLANNING RESPONSIBILITIES (ADMISSION SCHEME)

Physical Access

Improve the physical environment of every school; increase the extent to which disabled pupils can attend and be educated at their local mainstream schools with their peers.

Action / Time Scale / Responsibility / Success Criteria / Monitoring and Evaluation
Clear edges of path at back of school hall. / Spring 2015 / School / Easier .access for wheelchairs. / Governing body , buildings Sub-committee.
Gwynedd building officer.
Place handrail on steps near front gate. / Spring 2016 / School / Easier access for physically less able. / Governing body , buildings Sub-committee.
Gwynedd building officer.
Purchase a ramp for the hall door.
. / Spring 2017 / School / Easier access for wheelchairs. / Governing body , buildings Sub-committee.
Gwynedd building officer.
Re paint yellow line on every outer concrete step / Spring 2018 / School / Less chance of falls / Governing body , buildings Sub-committee.
Gwynedd building officer.