Buxlow Preparatory School Disability Discrimination and Accessibility (Whole School including EYFS)

Transcription

1 Buxlw Preparatry Schl Disability Discriminatin and Accessibility (Whle Schl including EYFS) Statement The SEN and Disability Act 2001 extended the Disability Discriminatin Act 1995 (DDA) t cver educatin. Since September 2002, the Gverning Bdy has had three key duties twards disabled pupils, under Sectin 10 f the Equality Act: Nt t treat disabled pupils less favurably fr a reasn related t their disability; T make reasnable adjustments fr disabled pupils, s that they are nt at a substantial disadvantage; T plan t increase access t educatin fr disabled pupils. Refer: Buxlw Schl s Accessibility Plan Sept 2015 Ratinale Buxlw will nt discriminate against pupils with disabilities in the way we prvide educatin fr them r affrd access t any benefit facility f service. The Equality Act 2010 (Disability Discriminatin Act 1995). Scpe This plan sets ut the prpsals f the Schl t increase access t educatin fr disabled pupils in the three areas required by the planning duties in the Equality Act: Increasing the extent t which disabled pupils can participate in the Schl curriculum; Imprving the envirnment f the Schl t increase the extent t which disabled pupils can take advantage f educatin and assciated services; Imprving the delivery t disabled pupils f infrmatin which is prvided in writing fr pupils wh are nt disabled. Definitin Fr the purpse f this plicy, the term disability has the same meaning as that given in the DDA and SENDA: A persn suffers a disability if he r she has a physical r mental impairment which has a substantial and lng term adverse impact n his r her ability t carry ut nrmal everyday activities. (Substantial t mean nt minr r trivial and lng term t mean lnger than 12 mnths) Physical r mental impairments can include sensry impairments (such as sight and hearing) and learning difficulties. The definitin als cvers certain medical cnditins when they have a lng term and substantial effect n pupils everyday lives. Disability is nt the same as special needs; nt all children wh are defined as having a disability have special educatin needs, and vice versa. This plan sets ut the prpsals f the Schl t increase access t educatin fr disabled pupils in the three areas required by the planning duties in the DDA: Increasing the extent t which disabled pupils can participate in the Schl curriculum; Imprving the envirnment f the Schl t increase the extent t which disabled pupils can take advantage f educatin and assciated services; Imprving the delivery t disabled pupils f infrmatin which is prvided in writing fr pupils wh are nt disabled. Buxlw/Plicies/Statutry Disability, Discriminatin and Accessibility Plan 1

2 Resurcing, Implementatin and Review f the Accessibility Plan It is a requirement that the Schl s accessibility plan is resurced, implemented and reviewed and revised as necessary. Attached is a set f actin plans shwing hw the Schl will address the pririties identified in the plan. 1. Starting Pint The purpse and directin f the Schl s plan: visin and values 1. Buxlw Schl values the individuality f all f ur children. We are cmmitted t giving all f ur children every pprtunity t achieve the highest f standards. We d this by taking accunt f pupils varied life experiences and needs. 2. We ffer a brad and balanced curriculum, and have high expectatins f all children. The achievements, attitudes and well-being f all ur children matter. 3. This plicy helps t ensure that this Schl prmtes equal pprtunities f all ur children, irrespective f ethnicity, religin, attainment, age, gender, disability r backgrund. 4. The Schl aims t be an inclusive Schl actively seek t remve barriers t learning and make reasnable adjustments t ensure that pupils and members f staff and the public are nt disadvantaged. 5. Every member f staff shares in the respnsibility t remve barriers t learning fr all pupils, including thse with a disability. 6. Therefre we aim t: make reasnable adjustments fr peple with disabilities; avid treating disabled pupils less favurably fr a reasn related t their disability; make reasnable adjustments fr disabled pupils, s that they are nt at a substantial disadvantage; and t plan t increase access t educatin fr disabled pupils. 2. Infrmatin frm pupil data and Schl audit Audit: The Schl as a Schl staff Experience have little experience f wrking with a wide range f disabled pupils and ways t remve barriers are shared with clleagues. Shuld a child with disabilities enrl then the Schl will ensure apprpriate and timely training is given fr staff. Liaisn with Outside Agencies The Schl liaises als with utside agencies wh ffer advice, guidance and supprt in meeting the needs f the pupils we supprt. These agencies help raise awareness f needs and als f strategies fr effective classrm practices. These may include Brent Deaf and Hearing Impaired Service Brent Early Years Inclusin Supprt Team Speech and language therapists Educatinal psychlgists Behaviural advisers Dctrs Occupatinal therapists Diabetic Dept f UCLH Learning Supprt Infrmatin. The SENDCO keeps learning supprt infrmatin fr pupils with special needs /disabilities that utline their strengths, difficulties, as well as helpful strategies fr supprting the pupil in the classrm. We keep guidance n a range f needs (ADHD, SpLD etc) which assist staff t best supprt pupils with such disabilities. Buxlw/Plicies/Statutry Disability, Discriminatin and Accessibility Plan 2

3 Hme-Schl Cmmunicatin Regular cmmunicatin with the parents f disabled children allws the Schl t mnitr the effectiveness f any adjustments made. 3. Cmpulsry and/r Regular Staff Prfessinal Develpment/Training First Aid Training: The majrity f staff at the Schl hld a current first aid qualificatin: paediatric r first aid at wrk. This is repeated n a tw yearly cycle Epi- pen: Members f staff have been trained in the use f an epi-pen. Children with severe fd allergies have an epi-pen in Schl. Their specific dietary requirements are knwn by staff including lunch supervisrs. The names f the children s affected and are listed in the First Aid file, displayed n the staff ntice bard and als discretely n the teacher s class nticebard. Repeat curses are ffered n a tw yearly cycle Hearing: There are n children with knwn hearing impairments currently. Brent has advisry teachers f the Deaf and Hearing Impaired wh wuld visit pupils t prvide individual help with speech and language if the need arse. Diabetes: There are n diabetics at Buxlw currently 4. Views f thse cnsulted during the develpment f the plan. All staff are kept infrmed abut children s disabilities and their needs at staff meetings. The children are cnsulted abut any adjustments that may need t be implemented. Parents views and ideas abut ways we can imprve ur prvisin are always welcmed and asked fr at parents cnsultatin meetings. During the develpment f this plan there have been cnsultatins with bth ILG and ther knwn exemplary clleagues as well as with; Parents f children with disabilities Children themselves Infrmal discussins with parents f children with disabilities will always be valued cntributins t the Schl s Actin Plan. Increasing the extent t which children with disabilities can participate in the Schl curriculum Buxlw undertakes t find ways in which all pupils can take part in a brad and balanced curriculum which includes sprt, music and drama. As sme f ur sprting activities and Schl trips invlve using caches we wuld endeavur t prvide suitable transprt if required. On admissin t the Schl/r at diagnsis, the children s parents will meet with class teachers and the Head t discuss the needs f the pupil. Input frm parents and utside agencies allws the teachers t find ways in which t enable the child t access the curriculum, participate in activities and prmte a supprtive eths amngst his/her peers. Strategies are identified t supprt them physically, emtinally r mentally. Infrmatin f pupil s strengths and weaknesses will be shared with all staff s that they can plan lessns using these strengths t build cnfidence in all areas. Teachers may use differentiated wrk r activities and teaching styles t enable children with disabilities t access the curriculum. Regular review and evaluatin f reasnable adjustments will ensure that Buxlw/Plicies/Statutry Disability, Discriminatin and Accessibility Plan 3

4 disabled pupils are making prgress and will help us t identify new adjustments that may be needed. This may include a supprt Passprt (IEP) which will be reviewed regularly. Review: The Schl will regularly reviews the way resurces are matched t the needs f all children. This may mean adapting r simplifying texts, using pictrial aids and games. Aim: It is ur aim t prvide library and reading bks and ther resurces that cntain psitive images f peple with disabilities. Imprving prvisin: Where necessary adjustments will be made t classrm rganisatin, the deplyment f supprt staff, timetabling and staff training t develp effective practices. 5. Imprving the physical envirnment f the Schl t increase the extent t which disabled pupils can take advantage f educatin and assciated services Buxlw will endeavur t imprve prvisin fr disabled staff and pupils by develping the physical envirnment f the Schl, within the limits f the resurces available. The Buxlw Schl site presents prblems fr certain categries f pupils with physical r mental impairment. In the event f an applicatin being made frm a teacher r pupil wishing t jin the Schl the fllwing pints need t be addressed. At present mst f the Prep Schl classrms and the Learning Resurce rm (cmputers and reference library) are n the secnd flr. Nursery, Pre-Schl, Receptin, Year 1 and Year 6 are n the grund flr. The Phase 2 building develpments will change this arrangement s that all prep classrms will be n the first r secnd flrs f the building. Nursery, Pre-Schl and Receptin classrms. f necessity, will be n the grund flr. Bth sets f stairs are narrw and there is n space t prvide a wheelchair lift. Crridrs are narrw and wheelchair mbility wuld render access utside f safety guidelines. The rear set f stairs culd accmmdate a chair lift hwever, access t the reminder f the building wuld require significant remdelling and cst. Such items as writing slpes, ft stls and psture cushins culd be put in place t help children imprve and align their psture when writing in class. Currently the use f pencil grips and suitable pencils/pens are used t help with handwriting. The purchase f different playgrund/pe equipment will be required shuld a disabled pupil need such items t increase the extent t which they can take part in physical activities. Limited access t the grund flr fr disabled parents, relatives r friends wh use a wheelchair can be gained via the side and rear f the Schl 6. Imprving the access t written infrmatin (prvided t pupils wh are nt disabled) The Schl will take accunt f pupil and parent disabilities. Fr example, cmmunicatin with a parent wh is visually impaired may need t be by telephne rather than letter. Infrmatin fr disabled pupils culd be made available in alternative frmats that fit their needs, such as Braille, auditape, large print r thrugh ICT. Fr children with hearing impairment the use f sign cmmunicatrs may be required and ther visual aids such as the use f visual timetables fr thse with weak auditry memry. 7. Making it happen Management, c-rdinatin and implementatin Buxlw/Plicies/Statutry Disability, Discriminatin and Accessibility Plan 4

5 The Senir Leadership Team will take in t accunt the details in this plan when develping the Annual Capex Prgramme, cnsidering the annual budget requirements, reviewing audits prvided by ILG specialists where necessary, liaising with Specialist Prfessinal Bdies. The Schl s DDA plan will be made available at the Schl Office, n request. This plicy was reviewed and updated in September The next review will take place in August 2016 r in light f regulatry changes. Christina A Leach, Head Buxlw/Plicies/Statutry Disability, Discriminatin and Accessibility Plan 5