St. Stephen’s Primary School

Accessibility Plan 2016 – 2019

We want all our children to enjoy their time at St. Stephens, and to be challenged to achieve their very best. We want them to consider their time at our school as their own ‘learning adventure’. At our school, we are committed to giving all of our children every opportunity to achieve the highest of standards. We do this by taking account of pupils’ varied life experiences and needs. We offer a broad and balanced curriculum and have high expectations for all pupils. The achievements, attitudes and well-being of all our children matter.

Purpose of Plan

This plan shows how St. Stephens School intends, over time to increase the accessibility of our school for all disabled pupils, staff, parents / carers and visitors.

Definition of Disability

A person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day to day activities.

Background

The SEN and Disability Act 2001 extended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) to cover education. Since September 2002, 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.  plan to increase access to education for disabled pupils.

This plan sets out the proposals of the Governing Body of our school to increase access to education for disabled pupils in the three areas required by the planning duties in the DDA:

a)  Increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the school curriculum;

b)  Improving the environment of the school to increase the extent to which disabled pupils can take advantage of education and associated services;

c)  Improving the delivery of written information for all pupils including those with a disability.

It is a requirement that our accessibility plan is resourced, implemented, reviewed and revised as necessary and reported on annually. Below is a set of action plans showing how St. Stephen’s school will address the priorities identified in the plan.

Increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can access and participate in the school curriculum.

Objectives / Action / Time-scale / Responsibility / Success Criteria.
To ensure all staff have specific training on disability issues. / Provide appropriate CPD related to SEND areas i.e. Dyslexia. / Autumn
Term
2016 and ongoing. / SENDCo / For staff to have knowledge of specific disabilities raising confidence in recognising and responding to individual needs.
All staff to be aware of the needs of pupils with SEND or other medical conditions. / To create ISPs for individuals according to need.
To make all staff aware of pupil needs / medical conditions. / Autumn Term
2016 / SENDCo / All members of staff are aware of any pupil with SEND or medical condition and know how to support with them.
Access arrangements to meet individual needs will be applied for and support provided as required. / Ensure appropriate testing and reports are provided in order to apply for access arrangements. / Autumn 2016 and ongoing. / Yr2 and Yr6 staff. / Pupils’ individual needs are met with any barriers to achieving their full potential being removed.
To review and maintain Dyslexia Friendly Status. / To review current practices, provide up to date CPD for staff and ensure all actions and work is evidenced / Summer 2017 / SENDCo / Achievement of Dyslexia Full Status
Ensure all out of school activities are planned to ensure the participation of the whole of pupils. / Review all out of school activities via risk assessments. / All staff / On-going / All out of school activities accessible to all.

Improving the physical environment of the school to increase accessibility for members of the school community with disabilities.

Objectives / Actions / Time-scale / Responsibility / Success Criteria.
Review the classroom environment – ensure classrooms continue to be organised with ease of access to appropriate resources, including specific and specialised resources for individuals (iPad, writing slopes, individual desks). / Learning walks to review classrooms - organisation and availability of resources. / Annually
Spring term. / SENDCo
SLT members / Pupils to have access to high quality resources and organisational structures which enable access for all.
To ensure any planned building works take full consideration of the needs of pupils with disabilities. / Consult with buildings and LA officers to ensure that all legal requirements are met in terms of disability access. / 2017 ongoing / SLT and Governors / All legal requirements are met. Building plans / documentation.
Any new building additions or alterations are organised to allow optimum access for pupils with disabilities.

Improving the delivery of information to all pupils, including those with a disability.

Objectives / Actions / Time-scale / Responsibility / Success Criteria
Availability of written materials to those with visual impairments and dyslexia. / Agreed formatting of written documents e.g. font size, colours.
Provide electronic copies of key written material on the website. / Spring 2016 / All staff / Written material is adapted and accessible by all.
Staff are responsive to individual needs as they arise and make reasonable adjustments to practice as required.

C.M.Emery-Talbot (SENDCo) November 2016

Julia Anderson SEND Governor.

Date of Review: ______

Signed: ______

Name : ______

Designation: Chair of ______Committee

Next review: Autumn term 2 2019

1 / St. Stephen’s Primary School Accessibility Plan 2016-2019