The SENAD Group
1 St Georges House
Vernon Gate
Derby
DE1 1UQ
Accessibility Plan
Alderwasley Hall School
Alderwasley
Derbyshire
DE56 2SR
Accessibility Plan as set out in
SENAD’s Accessibility Strategy Policy [710.0]
S88 Requirement
Review June 2014
Update due in June 2015
Lead Name: Sara Forsyth, Head Teacher
SENAD Support: Paul Munyard, Property Manager
Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form
The SENAD Group, June 2014 2
1.0 Introduction
The aim of the curriculum at Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form Centre is to
prepare students for adult life by developing the skills, knowledge and understanding
which they need in order to choose, set and achieve their personal goals and live their
lives to their full potential. Those goals may include academic aspirations, vocational or
career plans, hopes for independent living or choices of rewarding leisure and
recreational pursuits, all underpinned by the ability to form strong social and personal
relationships.
To summarise, Alderwasley Hall School will:
Meet a student’s speech, language and communication needs
Meet a student’s Special Educational Needs
Increase a student’s independence
Increase a student’s personal and social skills
Promote self-empowerment in students so that they learn to make reasoned,
positive life choices
2.0 The Equality Act 2010 – Disability
This plan has been prepared in response to the school’s duties under Section 88 of
The Equality Act 2010. The school recognises the following duties:
Not to discriminate against disabled pupils in their admissions and exclusions
and provision of education and associated services;
Not to treat disabled pupils less favourably;
To publish an Accessibility Plan (known as the Planning Duty).
3.0 Definition of Disability
A disabled person is defined by the Disability Discrimination Act as:
A person who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and
long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day
activities.
Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form Centre
The SENAD Group, June 2014 3
4.0 The Planning Duty
The Act places a duty (the Planning Duty) on schools to prepare Access Utility Plans
for:
Increasing the extent to which pupils can participate in the school curriculum,
e.g. leisure activities and school visits.
Improving the physical environment of schools to increase the extent to which
disabled pupils can take advantage of education and associated services.
Improving the delivery of written information, e.g. hand outs, timetables etc.
Independent schools must make their Accessibility Plans available to interested parties
on request at reasonable times.
5.0 The Accessibilty Plan
This plan aims to improve access to all aspects of education within Alderwasley Hall
School and Sixth Form Centre and is organised in a way that helps to remove any
existing barriers to pupil learning. It also aims to widen the opportunities available to
students who may have had restricted access to the wider community in previous
settings. This is our commitment to developing the outcomes within Alderwasley Hall
School and Sixth Form Centre aims and objectives.
The SENAD Group will monitor the implementation of the plan and regularly
review the access needs of the school.
This plan was reviewed in June 2014
It will be made available on the school’s website.
Angela Findlay at Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form Centre on 01629
822586.
Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form Centre
The SENAD Group, June 2014 4
6.0 Improving Access to the Curriculum
Targets Strategies Outcomes Timeframe Goals Achieved
Short
Term
To ensure that a broad, balanced
and relevant curriculum is in place
for all age groups and needs
To increase the access to a range
of externally accredited
qualifications
Annual Curriculum review
undertaken by Deputy Head and
Subject Leaders in consultation
with the Multidisciplinary Team.
All students have access to a broad,
balanced and relevant curriculum
that meets their individual needs, in
line with National Curriculum
expectations.
Clear pathways for progression for
every level of ability in place
Consultation Period opens in
Spring Term in preparation
for Summer Term timetable
construction
Currently on schedule
Increase in range of GCSE
subjects offered
Increase in range of BTEC
qualifications offered with
support programmes to
allow access for all within
the expectations of the EA
To improve effectiveness of access
to external providers
Monitor and evaluate the
effectiveness of external provision
to ensure access is available for all
students with appropriate support
All students will have equal access to
external providers of education who
are able to successfully meet their
individual needs.
Annual monitoring in
September each year
Students are able to access
link provision with FE/school
partners
Ensure Learning Environments are
suitably adapted to meet the
needs of our students
OT Team lead on assessing
Learning Environment adaptations
Purchase of relevant equipment
Visual Support Working Party lead
on assessing visual support in
Learning Environments
Every Learning Environment is fully
adapted to meet student needs.
Students’ sensory needs are adapted
for in Learning Environments
Ongoing programme of
review and adaptation
Initial Learning Environment
review
Individual equipment items
purchased and in place
Increased signage
throughout the school
Medium
Term
To increase the exploitation of
cross-curricular links and teaching
Subject Leaders’ meetings
(fortnightly) to identify links and
plan for learning and teaching in
each linked area
Improvement in flexibility of thought
for students
Ongoing with a view to
embedding linked practise
Sept 2011
Initial links identified on
Whole School Curriculum
Map
To increase the level of support
staff knowledge regarding
classroom learning techniques,
understanding of subject areas and
student needs
Half-Termly CPD element to staff
meeting
Lead TA classroom observations to
identify areas of need in TA
practise
Ongoing support from large
Therapy Team to increase
understanding of individual student
need
All Teaching Assistants will have
completed Phase 1 and 2 “Student
Needs Training”
All Teaching Assistants will have an
agreed supervision target linked
directly to meeting individual
educational needs
Ongoing with Phase 2
training to be completed
within 2 year cycle
All TAs have termly
supervision with Line
Manager
New staff (since 2009) have
completed Phase 1 Training
Phase 2 Training has
commenced Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form Centre
The SENAD Group, June 2014 5
7.0 Physical Improvements to the Environment
(Alderwasley Hall School Site)
Targets
Strategies
Outcomes
Timeframe
Goals Achieved
Short
term
Improved sanitary facilities Fit grab rails etc to main building
visitors WC
Access improved for ambulant
disabled
September 2014 Improved access
Medium
Term
Improve building access Provide access ramp to Cherry
House
Cherry House wheelchair accessible April 2015 Improved access
Improve horizontal circulation Ramp level change between G9
and WC’s in Cherry House
Improved access between WC and
classroom
April 2015 Improved access
Long
Term
Improve vertical circulation Provide contrasting colour nosings
to stairs as part of routine floor
covering replacement
Improved visual contrast on stairs for
visually impaired
Ongoing maintenance Improved access
Improve vertical and horizontal
circulation
Introduce colour contrast Improved visual contrast generally
for visually impaired
Ongoing maintenance Improved access
Improve access for visually
impaired
Replace/fit supplemental lighting
generally in conjunction with
routine maintenance
Lighting levels improved Ongoing maintenance Improved access
Improved external circulation Fit additional external lighting Improved visibility and way finding Ongoing maintenance Improved access
Miscellaneous General improvements such as
grab rails, induction loops etc
December 2014 Improved access
(Alderwasley Hall Sixth Form Centre)
Targets
Strategies
Outcomes
Timeframe
Goals Achieved
Medium
Term
Improved building access Provide induction loops in critical
areas
Access improved for hearing impaired December 2014 Improved access
Improved vertical circulation Fit colour contrasting nosings to
stairs as part of routine floor
covering replacement
Improved visual contrast on stairs Easter 2015 Improved access
Improved circulation Provide colour contrast through
routine redecoration
Improved colour contrast and way
finding
December 2014 Improved access
Improved circulation Upgrade/ fit supplemental lighting
through routine maintenance
Improved way finding December 2014 Improved access
Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form Centre
The SENAD Group, June 2014 6
(Cavendish House Site – residential home allied to Sixth Form Centre)
Targets
Strategies
Outcomes
Timeframe
Goals Achieved
Short
Term
Improved horizontal circulation Replaced narrow double door
between buildings and link to hold
open device
Circulation between buildings
improved
December 2014 Improved access
Medium
Term
Improved vertical circulation Fit additional handrails to stairs Stairs easier to negotiate December 2014 Improved access
Improved building access Provide designated disabled
parking space
Access between car park and building
improved
September 2014 Improved access
Improved building access Increase lighting levels to rear car
park
Improved way finding October 2014 Improved access
8.0 Improving the Provision of Information
Targets Strategies Outcomes Timeframe Goals Achieved
Short
Term
All internal signage is uniform, with
clear location markers
Visual Working Party to implement
and action uniform labelling and
signage
Students’ anxieties will be lessened
by the provision of uniform signage
Current and on-going All rooms are uniformly
labelled
Improve the accessibility of
information provided to parents
and students prior to assessment
Revise current material to produce
new booklet and review issues
relating to ‘Local Offer’ access
needs
Students and parents provided with
accessible information informing
them of what to expect on arrival for
assessment
October 2014 Booklet revised and
revamped and in circulation
