Huntingdon Nursery School

Accessibility Plan and Equality and Diversity Plan

January 2016 The DDA (Disability Discrimination Act 2001) Makes it unlawful to discriminate against disabled people (goods, facilities and services).

Huntingdon Nursery plan to increase over time the accessibility of school for disabled pupils.

Refer to School Policies:

Special Educational Needs Policy Equal Opportunities Policy Premises Plan developed from Asset Management Survey. PCM and Insurance surveys Complaints Policy Equality and Diversity Policy

Reference Information

Disability Rights Commission Code of Practice for Schools Cambridgeshire Accessibility Strategy Disability Discrimination Duty 2006

Barriers to Access – not listed in DDA Survey.

 Width of parent/children’s cloakroom for wheelchair users.  Step down from Blue room on to tarmac for disabled children (fire escape). Huntingdon Nursery School Accessibility Plan January 2016

A) Improving the physical environment for disabled pupils Priority 1. 1.Audit needs of each cohort of children entering Success Criteria Nursery and make reasonable adjustments. All children have inclusive access to areas of the Nursery Examples:- Personnel Resources Timescale Monitoring  Paint uprights in our playground yellow for V.I. children TA Staff SEN Budget Each year in SMT  Provision for sensory resources in group preparation room for complex needs children Inclusion LA Funding for children Inclusion  Obtain mobile hoist to assist moving children Manager coming. Manager from wheelchair to floor areas(as required) Charitable Fixed hoist in place in hygiene room HT Grants HT Steps for 2 year olds to reach Nursery activities 2.Take advice on best way to graduate step from Property Check that HT blue room fire door to accommodate swift and easy Manager plan worked evacuation/non- mobile children to be lifted over for each Inclusion step or exit through cloakroom (slope/ramp not Site Officer cohort of manager compatible) children at Staff H and S Sweep to put in ramp would take up half of the play fire evac. rep space/door only used for evacuation – monitor practices through fire practices Ramp access to yellow room to be laid in August 16 3.Security handles too high: This provision is necessary for the security of 2-4 year-olds in our Nursery setting. Disabled adults entering the Nursery would be escorted to rooms in the Nursery during school hours/doors would be fixed open for access into rooms during out of school hours. Door handles must remain at present height. Re-visited when a tall 5 year old was offered a deferred place awaiting a school place _ Action :talked to child about risk as he was old enough to understand and to abide by the rule(no incidents) 4.Seating with arm rests: Nursery has 2 adapted children’s chairs that are used for children with upper mobility problems. These are the correct height for 3-4 year-olds, have armrests and foot support. Chair with armrests for adults will be added to the existing provision, if required. Storage of additional equipment/chairs for disabled children can be an issue. Action: swift return of out grown chairs or changed chairs use of yellow room ‘store cupboard’ as required 5.Lowering lighting control switches (£2,500). This was discussed with Local Authority. Currently switches are not accessible to children. (Was suggested for disabled adults use of the room – but safety of children take priority) B)increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the school’s curriculum.

Huntingdon Nursery School has a minimum of 10 special needs, supported places in each cohort of children attending the nursery.

Arrangements made to increase participation in the Nursery curriculum vary for each individual child, but include some or all of the following:

 Training for staff eg:

Safe lifting/hoist training Positive handling – for individual children HI training sessions VI training sessions Advice/information from Spring Common School Makaton training Moving and handling training- for identified staff

 Physical needs of a child include:

Provision of mobility aids Tools and equipment Cutlery and non-slip matting Facilities for nappy changing/toileting Action plans for specific medical conditions Links with medical authorities Paediatric First Aid training (all staff) 4-day adults at work First Aid training (4 staff)  Individual support Plans( ISP’s) and Action Plans for specific conditions, syndromes, medical needs etc.

 Communication training, Makaton, PECS, Sign and Symbol use in the classrooms

 Accessibility to classroom, key worker groupings, exits, plans for evacuating the rooms etc.

 Offering appropriate, developmental or multi-sensory activities can be challenging for us. We have developed links with Spring Common Special School to give children a wider access to curriculum if we are unable to modify our Nursery curriculum to meet needs. C)Improving information provided to children with a disability in formats which take account of views expressed by pupils/parents. CDE Duty consultation with clients/user groups.

1. Approach to site – improve the route identified by visual/audible/tactile information. 2. Signs at lower eye level. 3. Signs/tactile information for access to other areas of the building. 4. Visual signs to assist orientation in logical areas. Direction signs/information signs visible from standing/sitting position. 5. Use of tactile signs. (maps/models/Braille). 6. Provision of induction loop- main building (£920) Nursery will not be pursuing the installation of an induction loop, fixed or portable, for the following reasons: Children are 3-4 years old attending Nursery, our aims with any Hearing Impaired child of this age would be to support their method of communication (sign/aural). Provision is in place to do this. HI children are placed in Blue classroom (the quietest classroom area in the school). Many staff are Makaton trained, hearing aid wearers have not developed sufficient language to be able to use an induction loop in the Nursery classrooms. We have no large halls/big spaces. HI adults attending parent evenings/meetings would be placed next to the speaker- or a sign language interpreter would be used to support communication. Many children have cochlear implants – training is in place for staff to maintain effective communication through implants (via Emmeline Centre). 7. Supplement the audible alarm with a visual system (£8,100) Nursery will not be adding a visual system to the existing audible system because: The children attending Nursery are 3-4 years old. Our class groups are arranged supported by teams of staff, some children have individual TA’s. Some children have individual access/escape plans. Staff are responsible for the safety of all children in the event of a fire. Huntingdon Nursery School Equality and Diversity Plan Sept 15

Action Personnel Timescale Monitoring/Evaluation Review/update all relevant policies SMT In line with Policy Governing Body Representation ie admissions, employment, Review Cycle safeguarding, behaviour with staff Admin Team HT teams – as policy cycle rotates. Check resources and equipment Teaching Staff Throughout Year Governing Body Representation and implement their use. HT

SMT Update training as required to be HT Last training summer in-date and to respond to individual term 2015 need Use network links with Children’s CC Manager On-going CC Manager Centre organisations to promote Equality and Diversity Tutor staff Check promotional literature to SMT On-going HT ensure it is inclusive Admin Team Continue to arrange events for SMT Throughout parents and celebratory activities in the setting Teachers