Accessibility Policy and Plan

Policy details

Date created - September 2022

Date reviewed - September 2022

Date approved - 6 October 2022

Next review date - Autumn term 2025

Policy owner - SENCO (Jude Baldwin)

People responsible for access

Introduction

Aims

Current Provision

People responsible for access

Introduction

The Accessibility Policy takes careful account of the Equality Act 2010 and is compliant with current legislation and requirements as specified in schedule 10, relating to disability, of the Equality Act 2010.

Co-op Academy Manchester is an inclusive school where all students are made to feel welcome and valued. We want to ensure that students experience and enjoy a high quality learning experience, enabling them to reach their full potential. All children have skills, talents and abilities and as an academy we have a responsibility, and desire, to develop these to the full.

Aims

The Academy Governing Council recognises the need to ensure that students can access their school fully. As a result we aim to:

•  Increase the extent to which students with disabilities can participate in the school curriculum and attain success in line with their ability, making reasonable adjustments to ensure that this happens.
•  Improve the environment of the school to increase the extent to which students can take advantage of education and associated services.
•  Improving information delivery to students with disabilities.

The Academy Governing Council recognises the need to ensure access to the school, information and events for parents, carers and other family members with disabilities and will:

• Ensure that information is clear, timely and accessible for all and use creative means of contacting family members to pass on or present information when necessary.
• Ensure that events are accessible, physically and cognitively, family members.
• Ensure that family needs are taken into account when arranging meetings.

The Academy Governing Council also recognises its responsibilities towards employees with disabilities and will:

• Monitor recruitment procedures to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with equal opportunities.
• Ensure that employees with disabilities are supported with special provision to ensure that they can carry out their work effectively and without barriers.
• Undertake reasonable adjustments to enable staff to access the workplace.

The plan will be resourced , implemented, reviewed and revised in consultation with:

• parents/carers of students
• employees
• governors
• external partners

Current Provision

1) Improving the extent to which students with disabilities can participate in the school curriculum and attain success in line with their ability, making reasonable adjustments to ensure that this happens.

Co-op Academy Manchester offers a broad and balanced curriculum for all students. We provide specialist provision to support students with learning difficulties to access the curriculum.

• Students on the SEND register have a Pupil Passport, written by gaining views of the student. This informs colleagues of the specific learning needs of students so that necessary adjustments can be made in lessons
• Staff work with colleagues from the SEND department to develop strategies for inclusion as well as contribute to the review of student progress
• All students take part in all aspects of the curriculum including physical activities. Where this is not possible a risk assessment will be completed drawing on advice from relevant professionals, allowing an alternative plan to be devised
• Academy visits are accessible to all students irrespective of attainment or impairment
• Staff continue to receive regular updates on students on the SEND register through staff briefings, SEND drop in sessions, new staff induction and our Known, Valued and Understood programme in staff briefings
• The academy has a strong transition programme to allow students identified by primary schools the opportunity to have additional transition visits/days as appropriate
• The academy is able to screen students, taking into account their reading ages and other assessments to enable us to identify those who require intervention or access arrangements for formal assessments

2) Improving the environment of the school to increase the extent to which students with disabilities can take advantage of education and associated services.

Co-op Academy Manchester aims to remove physical barriers and to improve access to the physical environment, adding specialist facilities as necessary.

• The academy has five lifts to allow students, staff and visitors who require assistance to move between the two floors of the new building and the three floors in the older building
• The academy has disabled toilets on all floors
• Ramps allow access to the ground floor of the building.The academy has a hygiene suite for students who need support in accessing toilet and cleaning facilities
• Designated staff are trained in manual handling to support students who may require assistance
• Fire and evacuation procedures are in place for students and staff that take into account what happens when lifts are inaccessible
• Evac chairs are strategically positioned around the building with site staff trained in their use
• Classrooms have sufficient space for all children and young people. Adjustments such as desk height for those students who require wheelchair access can be made where necessary

3) Improving information delivery to students with disabilities

Co-op Academy Manchester considers the needs and requirements of all abilities and with varying needs when communicating information, both verbally and in writing.

• Parents’ evening are key events, with all students and parents/carers encouraged to attend, and with additional phone calls made to individual families when needed
• Parents/carers of SEND students have the opportunity to speak to and meet with the SENDCo throughout the year in addition to these meetings
• The academy writes and reviews pupil passports with students. These are regularly reviewed to ensure student needs are catered for
• Effective examination access arrangements allow students with SEND to have barriers removed when completing external examinations
• Careers and options packages are carefully planned to ensure that information is delivered effectively to students, parents and carers