Accessibility Plan

This policy is presented in HTML to support accessibility needs and to work across multiple platforms. A full PDF copy is also available below.
Date Approved - July 2024
Approved By - Local Academy Council
Full PDF Policy

History of Recent Policy Changes

Version

Date

Page

Change

Origin of Change

Version
V1.0
Date
May 2017
Page
Document Creation
Change
Template for academy use created
Origin of Change
Requirement to have plan in place in each academy
Version
V2.0
Date
Feb 2020
Page
Whole Document
Change
Review of document and amendment to plans
Origin of Change
3 Yearly Review
Contents

Introductory Statement

This Accessibility Plan has been drawn up in consultation with staff and pupils of the Academy and covers the period from July 2024 to July 2027. The plan is available in large print or other accessible format if required.

The plan takes account of the Academy’s public sector equality duty set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.

We are committed to providing an environment which values and includes all pupils, staff, parents and visitors regardless of their educational, physical, sensory, social, spiritual, emotional and cultural needs. We are further committed to challenging attitudes about disability and accessibility and to developing a culture of awareness, tolerance and inclusion.

Background

The Academy’s layout and facilities

Woodlands Academy is a 1 form entry Primary School and Nursery. The site is made up of 1 building on 2 levels as the plans above. The school does not have a lift to upstairs.

The Academy is committed to making reasonable adjustments to allow disabled pupils to access educational provision at the Academy.

We plan, over time, to increase the accessibility of provision for all pupils, staff and visitors to the Academy in the following areas:

  • increase the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the Academy curriculum
  • improve the physical environment of the Academy to increase access to education by disabled pupils
  • improve the delivery of information to pupils, staff, parents and visitors with disabilities.

Attached are three action plans relating to the above. These will be reviewed as and when necessary. It is acknowledged that there will be need for ongoing awareness training for all staff in the matter of disability discrimination and the potential need to inform attitudes on this matter.

The Accessibility Plan should be read in conjunction with the following policies, strategies and documents:

  • disability equality scheme
  • equal opportunities policies
  • health and safety policy
  • special educational needs policy

The Plan will be monitored through the Academy Council meetings. There will be a full review of the Plan in July 2027, when a new Plan will be produced to cover the next three years.

Welcoming and preparing for disabled pupils

Where it is practicable to make reasonable adjustments to enable a prospective pupil to take up a place at the Academy and to satisfy the current admissions criteria, the Academy is committed to providing those reasonable adjustments.

In order to meet the needs of disabled pupils, the Academy requires full information. The Academy will ask prospective pupils to disclose whether they have received any learning support, have had an educational psychologist’s report or have any disability or other condition of which the Academy should be aware. Where a pupil has a statement of special educational needs, or an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan the Academy will work with the Local Authority (LA) who makes and maintains the statement / EHC plan to ensure that the identified provision is delivered in an appropriate manner.

In assessing the pupil or prospective pupil, the Academy may need to take advice and require assessments as appropriate. The Academy will be sensitive to any issues of confidentiality.

Reviewed Targets from 2023 – 2024

Increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the Academy curriculum

A table outlining the targets, strategies, outcomes, timeframes, and goals achieved for a school's plan to address the needs of disabled pupils.

Short Term:

Targets: Enable staff to increase their knowledge and understanding of needs of disabled pupils and differentiating the curriculum when appropriate.
Strategies: Training of staff.
Outcome: Staff confidence in providing appropriate teaching and support to more fully meet the requirements of disabled pupils' needs with regards to accessing the whole curriculum.
Timeframe: July 2024.
Goals achieved: Teachers are becoming more skilled in ensuring all children’s needs are being met.
Medium Term:

Targets: Enable children to access the school garden and forest school through clearing overgrown areas, re-establishing pathways in the garden.
Strategies: Clear design and project management through working with Bristol LA. Lessons and activities are adapted for the whole class ensuring everyone has the same opportunities.
Outcome: All pupils in the school access all learning and wellbeing opportunities the garden and forest school offers.
Timeframe: July 2024.
Goals achieved: The PTA with a parent volunteer have cleared a lot of the growth and will complete this over the summer so August 2024.
Long Term:

Targets: Ensure staff plan to meet the needs of all children for residential trips plenty of time in advance so activities can be adapted and staffing adjusted accordingly.
Strategies: Meet with parents in advance of the trip. Meet with staff to inform risk assessment in advance of the trip.
Outcome: Risk assessments inform practice on the trip. Clear roles and responsibilities defined within the risk assessment.
Timeframe: September 2023 onwards.
Goals achieved: Staff have proactively met parents to plan early enabling children with additional needs to access camps successfully. Year 4 in October 2023, Year 6 in June 2024.

Improving the physical environment of the school to increase access to education by disabled pupils

A table outlining the targets, strategies, outcomes, timeframes, and goals achieved for a school's plan to address the needs of disabled pupils in the context of classroom environments, play equipment, and facilities.

Short Term:

Targets: Ensure classrooms are language-rich but appropriate for children’s sensory needs.
Strategies: Audits linked to the Autism Champion scheme. Act on the outcomes of the audit.
Outcome: All areas of the academy are conducive to learning.
Timeframe: July 2024.
Goals achieved: Used outcomes of the Autism Champion and SLIC project to inform practices.
Medium Term:

Targets: Provide a range of play equipment for disabled pupils to use during break and lunch times.
Strategies: Research range of equipment available and consult pupils.
Outcome: Range of activities available during unstructured times.
Timeframe: July 2024.
Goals achieved: New break time equipment was all throwing and catching resources for different skill levels so appropriate for all. Have taught the children how to be inclusive to include everyone who wants to play football.
Long Term:

Targets: Provide accessible toilet and changing facilities for disabled pupils in the Early Years.
Strategies: Identify appropriate existing facility and improve it.
Outcome: Minimum of one accessible toilet/changing facilities in the Early Years setting.
Timeframe: 4 years.
Goals achieved: No updates yet.

Improving the delivery of information to disabled pupils

A table outlining the targets, strategies, outcomes, timeframes, and goals achieved for a school's plan to address the needs of disabled pupils in terms of written material availability, IT provision, and accessibility planning.

Short Term:

Targets: Ensuring availability of written material in alternative formats, when necessary.
Strategies: Become aware of services available for converting written information into alternative formats.
Outcome: If needed, the school will provide information in alternative formats.
Timeframe: On-going when needed.
Goals achieved: Where needed, font sizes are increased and work is copied onto coloured paper.
Medium Term:

Targets: Improve IT provision for disabled pupils.
Strategies: Rolling program of updating IT provision.
Outcome: Disabled pupils readily have access to IT resources to meet their needs.
Timeframe: As needed.
Goals achieved: Initial stages of IT rolling program in place due to changing trusts and receiving a bid from CLF – this improves visual access to whiteboard resources.
Long Term:

Targets: The accessibility plan takes into account the views of pupils with a disability as they move through the school.
Strategies: Include children explicitly in their EHCP to gain their views about accessibility to inform our accessibility plan moving forwards.
Outcome: The accessibility plan has taken the views of children into account.
Timeframe: July 2024.
Goals achieved: Pupil conferencing for all children on the SEND register – new stage/seating space by tree that everyone currently in school can access.

Targets from 2024 – 2027

Increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the Academy curriculum

Improving the physical environment of the school to increase access to education by disabled pupils

Improving the delivery of information to disabled pupils

Contact Us

Woodlands Academy
Whittock Road
Stockwood
Bristol
BS14 8DQ
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Woodlands Academy is proud to be part of the Cabot Learning Federation. 
Registered Company: Cabot Learning Federation
Company No: 06207590