REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

EDUCATION

PART II

LEA ACCESSIBILITY STRATEGY

1. The County Council as Local Education Authority (LEA) is required by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001) to draw up and publish an accessibility strategy, initially for the period 2003-2006. A draft strategy has accordingly been prepared and was the subject of consultation with schools. Responses from the consultation exercise showed that schools found its contents clear, informative and helpful. A copy of the strategy has been placed in the Members' Rooms.

2. The accessibility strategy has been prepared in accordance with DfES guidance and concentrates on:

· Increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the school curriculum.


· 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 to disabled pupils of written information which is provided to pupils who are not disabled. This should be done within a reasonable period of time and in formats which take account of views expressed by the pupils or parents about their preferred means of communication.

3. Capital funding is provided to Local Education Authorities by the DfES through the Schools Access Initiative, to support the adaptation of mainstream school buildings. Implementation of the rolling programme of improvements to mainstream schools as set out in the strategy will be dependent on the County Council as Local Education Authority continuing to receive funds at their current level - £2.114 million in 2003/04.

4. The Accessibility Strategy will enable the County Council to fulfil its duties under the Act. These are in summary:

· Not to treat disabled pupils (and prospective pupils) less favourably.


· To take reasonable steps to avoid putting disabled pupils at a substantial disadvantage.


The Strategy draws on, complements and incorporates existing strategies, plans and policies.

5. As the document has been favourably received, the Executive Member has approved its adoption as Hampshire's Accessibility Strategy for 2003-2006, and agreed to arrangements for it to be widely published and circulated.

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