What are the arrangements for the admission of disabled learners?
The school will not discriminate against disabled learners and will take all reasonable steps to provide effective educational provision. In order to ensure that learners who have a disability are catered for and are not treated less favourably than other learners, the school may seek advice from the Local Authority. It may be necessary in some cases for specialised equipment to be purchased, support staff to be deployed, and minor adaptions to be made to buildings and furniture. These will be completed in consultation with the Local Authority.
The SEND policy ensures that staff promptly and accurately identify, assess and arrange suitable provision for learners with disabilities and special educational needs. The SENDCos manage the Educational, Health and Care Plan Assessment Process, ensuring additional resources are available where appropriate. Our ‘Sanctuary’ and ‘Burrow’ provision provides versatile, newly refurbished learning spaces specifically designed to support learners with additional needs. The SENDCos and SLT ensure the provision of additional support for learners is effective and support teachers in implementing strategies for improving access to learning for any learner with a disability.
On admission to the school, any learner with a disability would have their needs assessed by the relevant SENDCo in liaison with SLT, any relevant external agencies and the LA if appropriate. Following the initial assessment, an Individual Health Plan and a Learner Profile would be devised and put into action. This would set out any access arrangements or specialist equipment required, plan targets to be achieved and the provision required to enable the learner to meet those targets. A Personalised Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) would also be put in place to ensure the disabled learner is able to exit the school safely in case of emergency.
The Accessibility Action Plan (which is available on the school website) ensures the school is regularly reviewing the facilities in place to enable disabled learners to access the school. The school currently has a range of facilities in place, these include:
- Soundfield Systems
- EVAC Chairs
- Elevator access to the upper floors
- Ramped access to the front & rear
- Disabled toilet on the ground floor
- Power assisted doors
- Fire safe door stop locks to keep doors open
- High visibility stair nosing
- Ear defenders
- Sensory space in The Sanctuary
We are committed to establishing equality for all learners regardless of their education, physical, sensory, social, spiritual, emotional and cultural needs. This is reflected in our ethos and values. It is the responsibility of the whole school community to implement this scheme in a manner, which promotes the inclusive ethos of our school.
Our school ethos is welcoming, caring and harmonious. It is built on the firm belief that all learners can succeed and their achievements and individual talents must be nurtured, developed and celebrated throughout their school career. It is our ambition, in partnership with our whole school community, to continually and actively promote our vision of an inclusive, vibrant, learning community that values diversity and challenges any kind of discrimination.
