Grange Primary School Accessibility Plan – 2005 to 2008N. Martell/P. Barrett

GRANGE PRIMARY SCHOOL

ACCESSIBILITY PLAN

2005 – 2008 – Final Review – Summer Term 2008

PREMISES ELEMENT
Item
No / Priority
A/B/C / Location / Description of Works Required and Responsibility / Current
Status / Time Frame / Estimated Costs / Date Completed
01/05 / A / Main gate, car park and throughout school building / Signage
Evaluate current external and internal signage
Identify areas where signage needs to be improved/replaced
Produce signage in
  • Welsh
  • English
  • Sign Equivalent
  • Braille desirable
School Responsibility
Needs to be simplified for use by children and visually impaired – consider separate Welsh/ English/ signed version
Consider carefully where all signage should be placed for maximum impact not only for children but for other users of the building
Colours need to be carefully selected and positioning lowered/carefully sited – less cluttered appearance / External Signage inadequate, wrongly placed does not clearly mark disabled parking spaces, special arrangements, no unauthorised vehicular access or speed limit
Main school sign needs to be updated to reflect a more ‘welcoming and inclusive image’ for the school
Parental Notice Board – new one required to ensure that parents who do not enter the school on regular basis are appraised of important events and policies – site in position where accessible to all visitors
Internal signage at wrong height, in English only some displayed in sign language, no Braille, no attention to colour scheme for visually impaired
Emergency Evacuation Signage –
Placed at adult height, is complex as it appears in Welsh and English on same A4 sheet – black print on white background.
Heath and Safety Signage – currently very small and on green, yellow and blue laminated A4 – displayed in every room at adult height
Entryphone system sign clearly stating what to do if you require assistance needs to be larger – have removed it as it was no longer correct needs to be replaced a.s.a.p. / Autumn Term 2005 / E.L.R.S. may be able to assist at minimal cost of materials
Use new colour MFD in school to produce some signage at lower cost
External signs to be costed individually with supplier
ROSPA produced signs / Internal Signage in place Sept 06
Produced by ELRS
H&S signs replaced with luminous signs using more symbols less words completed Oct 06
External signs provided by prof. company will be installed Nov 06
Legal requirement cannot be altered
Completed Oct 06
Will be in place Nov 06
Completed Oct 06
Will be in place Nov 06
Item
No / Priority
A/B/C / Location / Description of Works Required and Responsibility / Current
Status / Time Frame / Estimated Costs / Date Completed
02/05 / A / Car Park
Use of / Termly newsletter to include reference to arrangements for special parking arrangements for disabled pupils, parents, visitors or other users of the building
(H&S guidance letter already sent to drivers of taxis and minibuses)
School Responsibility
One paragraph in prospectus
Revise Home School Agreement to include statement on Accessibility
Also include section on Acceptable Use of Internet Policy
Induction does not include accessibility issues / Prospectus, notices at entrances and newsletters give clear guidance on parking restrictions in school.
Special arrangements for anyone attending concerts, parents eve., visitors, delivery vehicles etc., need to be given out on a termly basis as reminder and raise awareness of all staff during ADDs session
No statement in prospectus or home school agreement.
No reference in Home School agreement to Acceptable Use of Internet Policy
Include accessibility and acceptable use of internet in induction programme for new staff
Revise with all staff – Oct 06 / Autumn Term 2005 / Headteacher to include on newsletters
Review prospectus during 05/06 to add section on accessibility
Reproduce in colour on MFD at minimal cost
Adds session and induction of new staff
No additional costs / Aut. Term 05
Prospectus review completed May 06 going to PR Sub Com of Govs Nov 06
New Home School Agreement completed Oct 06 going to PR Sub Com of Govs Nov 06
All induction sessions now include Accessibility issues and acceptable use of internet
Item
No / Priority
A/B/C / Location / Description of Works Required and Responsibility / Current
Status / Time Frame / Estimated Costs / Date Completed
03/05 / A / Main Hall
Art Room
Stage
Stockrooms 1 and 2
D&T/Music
Science/Art
P.E./Cookery
Gardening / Raise staff awareness of the need to enable children who have mobility difficulties to access equipment independently by moving storage boxes containing selected equipment for specific sessions into larger space which is more accessible
Identify any new equipment purchase needs / Equipment stored in these areas is not accessible directly by some physically disabled pupils as they are small and confined
All equipment is now stored in labelled lidded plastic boxes which can easily be moved into hall or classroom
Cooking equipment on trolley – one on every level of school / Autumn Term 2005
Storage systems already in place but requires clear communication to all staff via the Adds session and induction programme for new staff / Nil / Done in ADDs session Aut 05
04/05 / A / Whole building / Accompanying visitors who have difficulty accessing the building due to their disability while they are on the premises to ensure their safety
Future colour schemes when redecoration will bear in mind visual impact / Building layout complex and on 5 levels with flights of steps between
Colour schemes in place for most classrooms and corridors provide good contrast between walls and door frames for visually impaired pupils/ visitors
6 members of staff have B.S.L. qualifications and could assist H.I. pupils/visitors / Autumn Term 2005 / Nil / On going – all staff awareness raised
Designing Y6/5 classroom with this in mind Sum Term 06
Completed Sum Term 07
05/05 / C / Disabled toilet facilities / Additional disabled toilet located at top end of building near to playground would be desirable / Only one disabled toilet – excellent facility – used by pupils and adults
Accessible from one level of building. Can be accessed externally from other levels by wheel chair / As and when need arises / Unknown
Present facility cost £26,000
Item
No / Priority
A/B/C / Location / Description of Works Required and Responsibility / Current
Status / Time Frame / Estimated Costs / Date Completed
06/05 / C / Access to changing areas / As above / As above / As above / As above
07/05 / C / Access to first aid facilities / Steps and distances to be travelled within the school would only become a problem if a disabled member of staff were to be employed at any time then special arrangements would need to be put in place / First aid emergency pack in all classrooms and dining room
Fully stocked first aid station in Medical room near foyer and in top corridor adjacent to playground
Portable first aid kits to be purchased
Responsibility given to EN on retirement of MC / As and when required / £20 to stock each station required / Information Sheet for all persons letting premises now contains all necessary info. on this issue
Completed Sum Term 08
08/05 / C / Access to patio areas / Portable ramps currently in use for patio areas small ramps could not be safely introduced on EY patio as they would encroach on play area used by bikes, etc., other patios could be made accessible with permanent ramps if poss / Access to patio areas difficult at present / As and when required / Unknown
09/05 / B / Access to playground / Pedestrian path and ramp required leading from drive to playground or at field end of playground linked to current path / Impossible for any person in a wheelchair – children with walking difficulties have to be supervised by one to one L.S.A. because of large number of steps / To be considered by GB during next 3 years as part of any scheme for drainage of playing field / Unknown / To be discussed with L.E.A. in 2007
10/05 / B / Access for whole building / Ramps required for 3 entrances
required / Two entrances are ramped enabling access to building on two levels3 levels still inaccessible / To be considered by GB during next 3 years / Unknown
Item
No / Priority
A/B/C / Location / Description of Works Required and Responsibility / Current
Status / Time Frame / Estimated Costs / Date Completed
11/05 / C / Access dining room / Special arrangements to be made for lunch – small group of children can eat together in Support Teaching Room or at table in Library
School meal to be collected from dining room / Inaccessible for any person in wheelchair – children with walking difficulties have to negotiate two flights of steps in order to gain access.
Works effectively at present and we are able to meet all needs thus far / As and when required / Unknown / Has been required during this ac. Year for child with serious blood disorder – period of 6 weeks
12/05 / B / Emergency evacuation procedures
External Lighting System
Internal Emergency Lighting / Installation of visual fire alarms in all areas of the building would be desirable but costly therefore to ensure their safety they will be supported at all times by additional member of staff who will be responsible for their safety in the event of an emergency evacuation
Plan gradual programme of improvements to external lighting system.
Plan gradual programme of improvements to emergency lighting system / Visual fire alarm only in two rooms (S.T.F.s) – inclusion means that they are in all rooms in the building on a regular basis
All staff are fully aware of this difficulty and always fully informed of the inclusion sessions for H.I. pupils. Additional staff are available
Inadequate lighting on patio areas, outside dining room and playground should there be an emergency evacuation during evening lettings or school concert, parent evening, Christmas fayre, special events for parents/pupils.
Before and After School Clubs and Lettings take place during evenings – partial lighting in place / All 3 aspects to be considered by GB in liaison with L.E.A. when planning future S.T.F. provision for Grange / Unknown
Stage 1 completed Autumn Term 05
£450 – driveway lighting improvement
EY Play area still needs lighting / Fire risk assessments and res. Trip risk assessments have included special arrangements for H.I. pupils during this ac. Year
Stage 2 completed Spring Term 06
External lighting to new decked area
Completed Spr Term 07
Stage 3 still incompleted
Item
No / Priority
A/B/C / Location / Description of Works Required and Responsibility / Current
Status / Time Frame / Estimated Costs / Date Completed
13/05 / C / Nature Reserves / Woodland trail accessible via Longfields Centre entrance and gate by arrangement
Pond nature reserve would require boardwalk wheelchair friendly path to be installed (as in woodland) / Pond nature reserve inaccessible for pupils in wheelchairs
Close supervision by one to one L.S.A. staff allows pupils with walking difficulties to use them both safely
Individual RA’ for new pupils with disability carried out and thus far all have been able to access all areas with supervision of 1:1 L.S.A. / As and when required / Unknown
14/05 / C / Early Years Adventure Play Area / Unable to see how this could be made accessible due to sloping nature of site / Inaccessible for wheelchair users / As and when required / Unknown
15/05 / B / Decked Area / When considering ramps for main entrances combine – raised level platform in addition to ramp / Accessible using portable ramp
New quiet garden area created adjacent to decked area with small concrete ramped edge Sum Term 08 / Autumn Term 05 / Nil / Completed Sum Term 07 with small concrete ramped edge
16/05 / A / Computer Stations / Create new computer stations which would be easily accessible to pupils in wheelchairs or with walking difficulties or accompanied by L.S.A. / Leasing arrangements for new computers created need for new areas to place computers – consider height of worksurface and space provided in relation to accessibility issues / Autumn Term 05 / £300 / Completed Aut Term 05
Completed Aug 08 -Replace Y4/3 and Y2/1 workstations
CURRICULUM ELEMENT
Item
No / Priority
A/B/C / Subject or Area Identified / Description of Change/Addition
Required and Responsibility / Current
Status / Time Frame / Estimated Costs / Date Completed
01/05 / A / Pupils with H.I., Sp&L diff. or requiring outside agency input / Convert a small storage area with window into an area which can be assigned or booked for staff providing regular sessions for all pupils with S.E.N. / Used support teaching room and medical room for Speech therapy, assessments, small group teaching sessions, planning and liaison meetings for small groups of staff, meeting with p arents. Identified a need for an additional small, quiet, comfortable well appointed room / Summer Term 05
Insulate Pipework
Install power points
Redecorate
Carpet
Soft furnishings
Fold away table
Shelving
Curtains / £800 / End of Summer Term 05
02/05 / A / Transition to Sec. School / Transition meetings to be extended to include OoC personnel. Timed to follow LAC review. Additional assessments required due to residential placements, medical and physical needs for consideration
N. Martell – SENCO/LAC Coo-ordinator, JD/ET
Training required for Mrs. J. Dallas – LAC issues
Additional time required for writing educational advice and attending assessment and review meetings
Summer Term 08 – 5 pupils in mainstream Y6 requiring considering additional liaision to be arranged for extra visits to Secondary placements at B. Gore, Bishopston, Pentrehafod Comps.
MP – Mary Hare Grammar School liaison – visits for MP to school and school staff to Grange.
JD to co-ordinate
Will not require these arrangements again until new cohort reaches Y5/6 (now only Nursery and Reception age / Transition meetings for H.I. pupils only requiring liaison with Olchfa or Sandfields S.T.F
2006/7 identified as considerable additional difficulties for 8 pupils
H.I. pupils with severe difficulties including 2 LAC . Links to RCT and Carmarthen. Most require full revision of Statement.
1 mainstream transition no statement but physical requirements need consideration
Parental visits to placements supported local schools and 2 out of county schools – links with Social Services required for visits to res. Schools for 2 LAC pupils
Summer Term 2007 required liaison for transfer of CR to new placement at S.T.F. in Clase Primary
Hearing Impairment
Autumn Term 2007 required liaison for pre-school admission arrangements for Nursery pupil with H.I. and complex additional needs – specialist training required for all staff on tube feeding procedures AJ
Sum Term 2008 required liaison for transfer of RL to new placement in S.T.F. in Bishopston Primary
Speech and Languge Difficulties
Summer Term 2008 required liaison with Social Services in respect of future placement for pre-school pupil with additional needs.
Spring Term 2008 – required arrangement of Parental Information Morning for parents of potential H.I. pupils for Nursery and Reception age
Summer Term 2008 – required induction arrangements and admission arrangements for two new Nursery and Reception pupils for September 2008. H. I. / Autumn Term 05 for 2 H.I. and 1 mainstream pupil
Spring Term 06 consider residential options for 2 H.I. pupils
Autumn Term 05
Transition for mainstream pupil / Supply cover costs J. Dallas
Travelling expenses for LAC and assessment meetings
Secretarial time for arranging meetings and typing and distribution of reports and minutes / Additional transition meetings arranged for pupils without Statements who had difficulties which dev. during the ac. Year
NMAttended 6 LAC and Soc. Serv. Meetings for OoC pupils
Supply cover provided for JD
Completed all transition work in Sum Term 08
Item
No / Priority
A/B/C / Subject or Area Identified / Description of Change/Addition
Required and Responsibility / Current
Status / Time Frame / Estimated Costs / Date Completed
03/05 / A / Music / J. Dallas/S. Bramley
Assessment of H.I. pupils for inclusion in music curriculum. Need to provide alternative for recorder sessions Y6/5
Melodica to be taught by MC – resources required / All H.I. pupils have previously been able to participate fully in music provision. Additional needs of 6 pupils make it difficult for them to participate fully at Y5/6 level
Individual assessment required and alternative provision made / Autumn Term 05
Assess in first half and provide alternative from October onwards / Additional S.L.A. covers music tuition
Needs to reallocate N.N.E.B. to teach melodica
Music from P. Emmanuel / Sept 05
Linked with Penybryn Spec. School to obtain music charts.
Ongoing for Sept 06
04/05 / A / Foundation Curriculum enrichment experiences / J. Dallas/EM/MB
Differentiated curriculum experiences required for 5 H.I. pupils who are working toward L1 up to L2 whilst in Y5/6
Need to provide wider range of visits to stimulate interest i.e library, local area, art gallery, seaside, cooking sessions, shopping sessions, road safety sessions, etc. / Emphasis placed on practical approach to delivering curriculum – many aspects of K.S. 2 curriculum not accessible due to lack of receptive and expressive language skills plus complex additional learning difficulties / Autumn 05 to end of ac. Year 07 / Additional costs for visits and associated materials for a more pratical approach
Costs for input from ‘visitors’ i.e. artists, K’Nex workshops,etc. / Really successful – costs covered from S Fund for special purchases
Gardening also included – costs for pots and plants
H.I. pupils loved the gardening!
05/05 / A / I..C.T. Across the Curriculum
See strategic Plan for I.C.T / Increased ratio of computers and use of Laptops – NT will require his own for Y5/6 current in school provision insufficient for anticipated increased use / I.T. assessment requested for NT increased ratio of computers via leasing of 20 +10 existing and installation of new work stations improved provision. More space for child plus 1:1 LS.A.’s to work throughout the school / Summer Term 05
NT Assessment completed Sum 06 Did not require additional laptop in order to meet needs / Leasing Costs
£3,000 p.a.
Installation of workstations
£250 / Autumn 05 – leasing and workstations
Referral made Summer 05
Completed Aut Term 06
Item
No / Priority
A/B/C / Subject or Area Identified / Description of Change/Addition
Required and Responsibility / Current
Status / Time Frame / Estimated Costs / Date Completed
06/05 / A / Inclusion of H.I. pupil in Mainstream fulltime – Rec. / Provide half day support daily during first year to support development of basic Lit and Num skills
JD to monitor and evaluate on termly basis
Risk assessment needed for all new admissions with S.E.N. – Ruth Diehl visit to school to provide guidance / Currently all H.I. pupils are S.T.F. Based – need to provide additional support for JH from current staffing to assess ability and future needs
May need to change to support p.m. sessions during the year