Ercall Wood

Joint Disability Equality Scheme and Accessibility plan

December 2009- December 2012

The college is committed to ensuring equal treatment of all its students, employees and any others involved in the school community with any form of disability and will ensure that disabled people are not treated less favourably in any procedures, practices or service delivery. We will continue to develop a culture of inclusion and diversity in which disabled people can participate fully in school life.

Definition of disability
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a disabled person as someone who 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.

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 amends the definition of disability, removing the requirement that a mental illness should be ‘clinically well-recognised’.

People with HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis will be covered by the DDA effectively from the point of diagnosis, rather than from the point when the condition has some adverse affect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities

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.

• Not to treat disabled pupils less favourably for a reason related to their disability.
• To make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils so that they are not at a substantial disadvantage.
• To plan to increase access to education for disabled pupils.

This plan sets out the aims of the Governing Body of the college to increase access to education for disabled pupils in the three areas required by the planning duties in the DDA and to fulfil its general duties under the same Act towards staff and other service users.

College Data
The College currently has 185 students on the Special Needs Register.

Key:

The school does not currently have any disabled staff.

General Duties
The general duty builds upon the duties of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 including the duty to make reasonable adjustments to make sure disabled people are not placed at a disadvantage.

For students this includes:

• Increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the school curriculum.
• Improving the environment of the school to increase the extent to which disabled pupils can take advantage of education and associated services.
• Improving the delivery to disabled pupils of information, which is provided in writing for pupils who are not disabled such as the provision of Braille where appropriate.

The college follows guidance from the SEN and Disability Act 2001. The college does not discriminate against disabled children in their admission arrangements, and we take reasonable steps to ensure that the children are not placed at a substantial disadvantage to those who are not disabled. Staff aim to enable the fullest possible participation of pupils with disabilities or particular needs in all subjects, making provision, where necessary, to facilitate access to activities. Advice and support are sought from external specialists where it is required

The school’s policies, practices and procedures reflect the school’s aim to give all children, regardless of gender, race, culture or disability, equal access to all experiences and opportunities. On admission of a disabled pupil, the school would consider the following:

• School policies, practices and procedures relating to anti-bullying, school trips, the way risk assessments are carried out, learning and teaching, time-tabling, the administration of medicines.
• The physical environment of the school.
• The curriculum.
• The ways in which information is provided for disabled pupils.
• The priorities currently set in other plans, particularly the School Improvement Plan.

At Ercall Wood Technology College we aim to meet our specific duty in the following ways:

• Involvement of disabled people in developing the scheme
• Developing a voice for disabled students, staff and parents/carers
• Encouraging participation in public life by disabled people
• Eliminating harassment and bullying
• Promoting positive attitudes towards disabled people
• Removing barriers
• Assessment of impact
• The Governing Body
• Collecting disability data.
• Reviewing and monitoring

Details of how these aims are to be achieved are contained in Appendix 1.

The views and aspirations of all stakeholders are sought through the school’s existing systems such as questionnaires and individual interviews with the SENCO and other staff. Governors have been consulted over this plan. Parents, carers, students and other agency views will be sought to amend the plan should the need arise.

The plan will be reviewed annually to assess the impact on disabled people. A report will be made to the governing body which will then be made available to parents/carers. This will be notified through the school newsletter.

Appendix 1

Specific Duty