School accessibility

Schools and Education and Library Boards must not discriminate against pupils with special educational needs for a reason relating to their disability. They should promote the inclusion of special educational needs pupils in their admission arrangements and in all aspects of school life.

Accessibility plans and 'reasonable adjustments'

Schools will vary widely in how accessible they are to individual pupils. You should check what improvements have been made to a school and what is being planned when considering which school you would like your child to attend.

Every school must have a school accessibility plan, which shows how they intend to improve accessibility for special educational needs pupils, and by when these improvements will be made. In order to prepare the plan a school must firstly commission the completion of an Access Audit. The plan must be published and you can ask to see it. It will outline how the school will:

improve the physical environment
make improvements in the provision of information
increase access to the curriculum

Schools can also increase access for individual pupils by making ‘reasonable adjustments’. These can be simple changes such as making sure that all lessons take place in ground floor classrooms for a class where one of the pupils uses a wheelchair and the school does not have a lift.

You should always talk to a school to discuss what it can reasonably do to include your child.

Improvements to the physical environment

Changes to the physical environment that a school could make to increase access might include:

lighting and paint schemes to help visually impaired children
lifts and ramps to help physically impaired children
carpeting and acoustic tiling of classrooms to help hearing impaired pupils

Improving the way information is delivered to pupils with disabilities

Information that is normally provided in writing (such as handouts, timetables and textbooks) can be made more accessible by providing it:

in Braille
in large print
on audio format
using a symbol system

Understanding the revised curriculum

Adjustments that would help children with disabilities have better access to the curriculum might include:

changes to teaching and learning arrangements
classroom organisation
timetabling
support from other pupils
Understanding the Revised Curriculum (parents section)

Assistive technology

Technology suited to your child's needs can help them learn faster and more easily. This can increase their access to the curriculum. Examples of technology that can help include:

touch-screen computers, joysticks and trackerballs
easy-to-use keyboards
interactive whiteboards
text-to-speech software
Braille-translation software
software that connects words with pictures or symbols

Some schools may already have this kind of technology available, or may be planning to get it.

Arrangements for distributing resources and funding for equipment vary throughout the UK. If your child has a statement of special educational needs, the help that is detailed on their statement (which may include special equipment) must be provided.

Accessible technology products

School transport

While the same basic rules apply to all children, Education and Library Boards (ELBs) can make a decision to provide transport on a case by case basis for a child with disabilities.

Your ELB will assess your child's needs when making a decision, taking into account your child's health and/or disability. If your child is offered school transport, the vehicle should have the relevant equipment to suit your child's needs - for example wheelchair restraints, ramps or lifts.

For more detailed information about approved transport arrangement, please refer to your local Education and Library Board's Transfer Booklet.

Education and Library Boards also provide escorts on school transport if needed. You may be able to get help with your own costs for taking your child to school. Your ELB will be able to tell you if this is possible.

School transport (parents section)

If your child cannot attend school for medical reasons

If your child cannot go to school because of medical needs or health problems, your Education and Library Board has a responsibility to enable them to continue their education. This could be achieved by lessons in hospital, for example