Equalities and Additional Intervention
Oulton Academy aims to increase access to education for disabled students in the three areas required by the DDA:
- increasing the extent to which disabled students can participate in the academy curriculum.
- improving the environment of the academy to increase the extent to which disabled people can take advantage of education and associated services;
- improving the delivery to disabled students of information which is provided in writing for students who are not disabled.
According to the Equality Act 2010 a person has a disability if:
- the student has a physical or mental impairment, and
- the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Oulton Academy is an inclusive academy whose key values are respect and resilience. This is embodied by the academies commitment to inclusion and all students feeling included and valued. The academy strives to reduce and eliminate barriers to the curriculum and to full participation by students, prospective students and our adult users with a disability.
The academy strives to provide a fully accessible environment that enables full curriculum access that values and includes all students, staff, parents and visitors regardless of their education, physical, sensory, social, spiritual, emotional and cultural needs. The academy is committed to taking positive action and to developing a culture of inclusion, support and awareness. The academy provides all students with a broad and balanced curriculum, differentiated and adjusted to meet the needs of individual students and their preferred learning styles.
Oulton Academy is committed to working to provide an inspirational and exciting learning environment where all students can develop an enthusiasm for life-long learning, valuing, promoting and celebrating difference and diversity irrespective of ability, need, age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, attainment, disability or background. It is an academy priority that every student feels valued and that their life experiences and needs are given equal regard.
The academy abides by the Code of Practice when meeting the Special Educational Needs, including a range of disabilities, of children with a statement or Education Health Care Plan. The academies Inclusion Policy and Core Offer is made known to parents via the academy website.
The Accessibility Plan contains relevant and timely actions to:
- Increase access to the curriculum for students with a disability by expanding the curriculum as necessary to ensure that students with a disability are as equally prepared for life as are the able-bodied students.
- Improve and maintain access to the physical environment of the academy adding specialist facilities, as necessary.
- Improve the delivery of written information to students, staff, parents and visitors with disabilities.
Academy staff receive training in making the curriculum accessible to all students and are aware of its importance. The academy will continue to seek and follow the advice of LA (local authorities) services such as specialist teacher advisers and SEN (Special Educational Needs) advisers, and of appropriate health professionals from the local NHS Trusts.
All disabled students are encouraged to participate in all activities in academy and all reasonable efforts and adjustments will be made to accommodate this. This not only includes activities within the academy day but also extracurricular and enrichment activities. Where necessary, and taking into account the student’s wishes, this may be delivered through or within Haven.
The academy uses local services, including those provided through the LA, for providing information in alternative formats when required or requested. This can include providing information in Braille, in large print, in simplified language, on audiotape, on videotape, through sign language, using a symbol system.
