Camberwell ParkSpecialistSupportSchool

Disability Equality Scheme incorporating Accessibility Plan

January 2014 – December 2017

Introduction

From 1 October 2010, the Equality Act 2010 replaced all existing equality legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The effect of the law is the same as in the past, meaning that “schools cannot unlawfully discriminate against pupils because of their sex, race, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation”.

Advice from the Department for Education (DfE) on the Equality Act 2010 explains that schools must have an accessibility plan to comply with the Act, just as they did under the DDA.

Paragraph 4.29 explains that schools must implement accessibility plans that aim to:

  • Increase the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the curriculum;
  • Improve the physical environment of schools to enable disabled pupils to take better advantage of education, benefits, facilities and services provided; and
  • Improve the availability of accessible information to disabled pupils

Gathering Information

We will gather information from a variety of sources to enable the school to have a clear picture of how useful existing data is in producing relevant information about meeting the needs of it’s disabled pupils and staff. We will use a range of activities to enable the active engagement of disabled young people and adults at all stages of the process. The following are examples of activities we will be using;

  • Findings from questionnaires to various groups of stakeholders
  • discussion at staff meetings and meetings with multi-agency team members
  • school council
  • consultation with representative group of parents / carers
  • Consultation with the governing body
Assessment of Impact

This Disability Equality Scheme will be reviewed and RAG rated and the impact of the actions taken to adjust and amend the school’s policies and practices on disability equality will be assessed through the following outcomes;

  • improved achievements for pupils with disabilities
  • increased participation of pupils with disabilities in all activities and areas of school life
  • to ensure appropriate support for staff with disabilities in the school
  • improved access to the school for people with disabilities

Leadership and Commitment

CamberwellParkSchool has high ambitions for its’ disabled pupils, expects them to participate and achieve in every aspect of school life and is fully committed to achieve the 5 Every Child Matters outcomes for all its’ pupils.

Camberwell Park School makes all pupils, staff, parents/carers and visitors feel welcome irrespective of race, colour, creed or impairment and aims to identify and remove any barriers to people with disabilities.

CamberwellParkSchool is committed to equal opportunities and implementing the National Curriculum Inclusion Statement. This is demonstrated by the way we:

  • set appropriate learning challenges and targets for all pupils
  • are responsive to the diverse needs of pupils and staff
  • overcome potential barriers to learning and participation in all areas for individuals and groups of pupils.

We are Passionate about including all of our children and the community in the life of the school, we are Respectful of the varied needs of our children, their parents and carers and other stakeholders, we are Organised in putting the steps in place to work towards the goals we have set, we are Understanding of the need to address all aspects of the equality plan and we are Dedicated to ensuring all targets are achieved within timescale set. We are PROUD to have established Camberwell Park as a fully inclusive school.

Aim / Actions / Timescale / Measurable outcome / Lead person / Other organisations
CURRICULUM
To make effective use of the Sports Premium funding to raise standards in PE across the school /
  1. To purchase new resources for dance
  2. To provide programme of CPD for teachers
/ Jan 14
Spring / summer term 14 / Improved dance teaching via approp resources
Increased % of outstanding PE lessons / Steve Coates
Alison Randall / Externally moderated by Governing Body and School Budget officer
To continue the programme of review of the school curriculum to embed aspects of ECO schools / community cohesion and pupil voice and rights respecting schools / Subject leaders to review medium term plans to ensure that all thematic strands are integrated into each topic. / Ongoing cycle of curriculum review over the 3 year plan – see school improvement plan cycle for reference / Updated curriculum which embeds aspects of pupil voice, community cohesion / rights respecting schools / ECO / Alison Randall
Subject leaders
To review and update our school curriculum in the light of the revised National Curriculum / Subject leaders to review current school curriculum on a rolling programme and make necessary and appropriate changes / Ongoing rolling programme – see school improvement cycle / Revised curriculum which takes into account updated National Curric requirements but continues to meet the needs of our learners / Alison Randall
Subject leaders
To ensure ongoing effective use of the pupil premium funding to secure effective learning outcomes for children who are in receipt. / Review needs for pupil premium spending - monitor and evaluate outcomes ( see website info) / ongoing / Data evidence regarding percentage of outstanding progress in core subjects / Mary Isherwood
Carmen King / Externally moderated by Governing Body and School Budget officer
BUILDINGS
Aim / Actions / Timescale / Measurable outcome / Lead person / Other organisations
Current build continue to make safe / To continue ongoing review of current building ensuring that all issues of health and safety which arise are addressed promptly / As needed / Risks associated with current building are minimised and addressed / Carmen King
Programme of transition to new build / To establish a programme for smooth transition to new school building / Plan to be established by April 14 in preparation for move in April 15 / Transition to new building is managed effectively for all stakeholders / Carmen King
Mary Isherwood / Carillion
EFA
Consult with other agencies re access and furniture e.g. OT and VI / To seek advice from other agencies regarding considerations for new build / Spring / summer term 14 / Needs of all children are addressed in new building within available funding streams / Mary Isherwood
Carmen King / Sensory service
Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy
Nursing staff
To establish a new school building which meets the needs of the full school community / To work with EFA and Carillion to plan effectively for a new school building / Handover of new building scheduled for Easter 2015 / Building established and functional for all school community / Mary Isherwood
Carmen King / Carillion
EFA
Grounds and horticulture / To develop new school grounds to ensure continued and enhanced horticulture provision / Ongoing developments on new site / Appropriate and enhanced horticulture provision in use by all children / Mary Isherwood
Carmen King
Jane Greenfield / Manchester LA
Wates
COMMUNICATION
Aim / Actions / Timescale / Measurable outcome / Lead person / Other organisations
To ensure consistent application of total communication strategies throughout school / As part of school improvement priority to review, develop and implement consistent strategies ( see SIP) / Priority focus area 2013-2014 in Sch Imp Plan / Consistent implementation of total communication evidenced on day to day basis and through lesson obs. / Sue Widdall / Speech and Language Therapist
To develop the use of Low tech and High Tech AAC to support the communication needs of identified children across school. / Two school staff to train in assessment of AAC needs with ACE Centre North and then carry out assessments in school as needed / Training Autumn 13 / Spring 14. Implementation to follow / Outcomes for communication improved through assessment and implementation of appropriate AAC / Alison Randall
Sue Widdall / ACE North
To establish appropriate signage for the new building / To ensure accessibility issues are considered for all signage inside and outside of the new building / By April 15 / Functional and accessible signage in place for all stakeholders / Mary Isherwood
Carmen King / Carillion
EFA
Ryder Architecture
To develop the use of the VLE – Camberlink as an appropriate communication tool for various groups of stakeholders including pupils, parents, staff, governors and visitors to the site / Class teams to continue to develop the use of the VLE as a teaching tool in the classroom and to link with parents / carers / Ongoing / VLE established as communication tool and regularly used and valued by all stakeholders / Sue Widdall
Dave Andrews / DB primary
To establish revised school brochure / To review and develop revised brochure for our new school site / provision / By April 15 / New school brochure established reflecting revised provision and location / Mary Isherwood

1

RED = Not started / in danger of missing target ,AMBER – started / on track, GREEN = Achieved