Accessibility
Plan
2024-2025

Version: September 2024         Review Date: September 2025

A consultation via email around the contents of this policy has been conducted
with all staff prior to the policy release.

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 Swinton is an inclusive school where all students are made to feel welcome and valued. Our academy vision is for our school to be a ‘centre of excellence’ where the day in, day out experience is outstanding for all. Through this 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 to develop these to the full.

Aims

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

1. 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;
2. Improve the environment of the school to increase the extent to which students with disabilities can take advantage of education and associated service;
3. Improving information delivery to students with disabilities.

The Governing Body 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, for family members
• Ensure that family needs are taken into account when arranging meetings

The Governing Body 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 without barriers.
• Undertake reasonable adjustments to enable staff to access the workplace

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

• Parents of students
• Employees
• Governors
• External partners

Current Provision

1.         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.

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

All students on our SEND register have a Pupil Passport, written by gaining the views of the student and their parents. The Pupil passport informs colleagues of the specific learning needs of students so that necessary adjustments can be made in lessons.

• Staff work with colleagues from the SEN 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 is completed drawing on advice from relevant professionals. An alternative plan will be devised with the student and parents.
• Where it is identified that students need a more specialist provision it is provided through our Nurture Curriculum in Years 7 and 8 and an alternative GCSE pathway is provided for students in Years 9-11.
• Academy visits are accessible to all students irrespective of attainment or impairment.
• Staff continue to receive regular updates on students on our SEND register through staff briefings, SEND drop in sessions and New Staff Induction CPD programme.
• The academy has a strong transition programme to allow students identified by primary schools the opportunity to make additional transition visits. This allows us to create Pupil Passports prior to students formally starting with us in September.
• The academy is able to screen students taking into account reading ages and other assessments to enable us to identify students who require intervention or access arrangements for formal assessments.
• Extra-curricular activities are inclusive.

2.        Improve the environment of the school to increase the extent to which students with disabilities can take advantage of education and associated service.

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

• The academy has one lift to allow students, staff and visitors who require assistance to move between the two floors of the main building. There are also two platform lifts to allow access to Lower School and the Art/Library corridor. These are all controlled by lift keys. This allows students’ access to Maths and ICT.
• The academy also has disabled toilets on the ground floor
• Ramps allow access to the ground floor of the building.
• Fire and evacuation procedures for students and staff are in place that consider what happens when lifts are inaccessible.
• Classrooms have enough 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 Swinton considers the needs and requirements of all abilities and with varying needs when communicating information, both verbally and in writing.

• Parents’ Evenings are key events, with all students and parents encouraged to attend, with phone calls made to individual families when needed. There is always a member of the SEND team available on these evenings.
• Parents of SEND students have the opportunity to attend additional meetings with the SENDCO.
• The academy writes and reviews Pupil Passports with children and parents. These are regularly reviewed to ensure student needs are catered for.
• Effective examination arrangements allow for effective access in examination situations.
• Careers and options packages are carefully planned to ensure that information is delivered effectively to students, parents and carers.

Co-op Academy Swinton will continue to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to ensure that disabled students, parents or visitors attending the school are not discriminated against. Making reasonable adjustments could include:

• Changes to practices and procedures
• Changes to physical features
• Changes to how learners are assessed
• Providing extra support and aids (such as specialist teachers or equipment)

Plans and areas for development