Part IV Education
F2Chapter 1 SCHOOLS
F1Duties of responsible bodies
Pt. IV Ch. 1: Cross-heading and s. 28A inserted (E.W.S.) (1.9.2002) by 2001 c. 10, s. 11(1) (with s. 43(13)); S.I. 2002/2217, art. 3, Sch. 1 Pt. 1
F328D Accessibility strategies and plans
C11
Each local education authority must prepare, in relation to schools for which they are the responsible body—
a
an accessibility strategy;
b
further such strategies at such times as may be prescribed.
C12
An accessibility strategy is a strategy for, over a prescribed period—
a
increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the schools’ curriculums;
b
improving the physical environment of the schools for the purpose of increasing the extent to which disabled pupils are able to take advantage of education and associated services provided or offered by the schools; and
c
improving the delivery to disabled pupils—
i
within a reasonable time, and
ii
in ways which are determined after taking account of their disabilities and any preferences expressed by them or their parents,
of information which is provided in writing for pupils who are not disabled.
C13
An accessibility strategy must be in writing.
4
Each local education authority must keep their accessibility strategy under review during the period to which it relates and, if necessary, revise it.
C15
It is the duty of each local education authority to implement their accessibility strategy.
C16
An inspection under section 38 of the Education Act 1997 (inspections of local education authorities) may extend to the performance by a local education authority of their functions in relation to the preparation, review, revision and implementation of their accessibility strategy.
7
Subsections (8) to (13) apply to—
a
maintained schools;
b
independent schools; and
c
special schools which are not maintained special schools but which are approved by the Secretary of State, or by the National Assembly, under section 342 of the Education Act 1996.
8
The responsible body must prepare—
a
an accessibility plan;
b
further such plans at such times as may be prescribed.
9
An accessibility plan is a plan for, over a prescribed period—
a
increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the school’s curriculum;
b
improving the physical environment of the school for the purpose of increasing the extent to which disabled pupils are able to take advantage of education and associated services provided or offered by the school; and
c
improving the delivery to disabled pupils—
i
within a reasonable time, and
ii
in ways which are determined after taking account of their disabilities and any preferences expressed by them or their parents,
of information which is provided in writing for pupils who are not disabled.
10
An accessibility plan must be in writing.
11
During the period to which the plan relates, the responsible body must keep its accessibility plan under review and, if necessary, revise it.
12
It is the duty of the responsible body to implement its accessibility plan.
13
An inspection under the School Inspections Act 1996 may extend to the performance by the responsible body of its functions in relation to the preparation, publication, review, revision and implementation of its accessibility plan.
14
For a maintained school, the duties imposed by subsections (8) to (12) are duties of the governing body.
15
Regulations may prescribe services which are, or services which are not, to be regarded for the purposes of this section as being—
a
education; or
b
an associated service.
16
In this section and in section 28E, “local education authority” has the meaning given in section 12 of the Education Act 1996.
17
In relation to Wales—
“prescribed” means prescribed in regulations; and
“regulations” means regulations made by the National Assembly.
18
“Disabled pupil” includes a disabled person who may be admitted to the school as a pupil.
19
“Maintained school” and “independent school” have the meaning given in section 28Q(5).
Pt. IV: Chapter heading, cross-heading and s. 28A inserted (E.W.S.) (1.9.2002) by 2001 c. 10, s. 11(1) (with s. 43(13)); S.I. 2002/2217, art. 3, Sch. 1 Pt. 1