Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2025
Perth and Kinross Council · 15 March 2023
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 15 March 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL LEARNING AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE – 15 MARCH 2023 PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL – 10 MAY 2023 PERTH AND KINROSS EDUCATION AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES ACCESSIBILITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN 2022 – 2025 Report by Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (Report No. 23/87) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The purpose of this report is to request approval of the Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2025, which delivers on a duty of the Education Authority in relation to the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils’ Educational Records) (Scotland) Act 2002. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that the Learning and Families Committee: • Approves the Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2025; • Agrees the approved Strategy and Action Plan is submitted to Perth & Kinross Council for noting; and • Requests the Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) reviews the implementation of the Action Plan annually and provides a progress report to Committee by October 2025. It is recommended that Council: • Notes the approved Strategy and Action Plan. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background • Section 5: Proposals • Section 6: Further Considerations • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND 4.1 The Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils’ Educational Records) (Scotland) Act 2002 introduced a duty on all Education Authorities to prepare and implement an accessibility strategy for all schools for which they are responsible, showing how the Education Authority and schools plan to meet their duties under the Act.
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4.2 Section 2 of the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils’ Educational Records) (Scotland) Act 2002 legislation specifies that an Accessibility Strategy is a strategy to, over a prescribed period: • Increase the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the school curriculum wherever learning is delivered; • Improve the physical environment of schools and other education settings for the purpose of increasing the extent to which disabled pupils are able to take advantage of education and benefits, facilities or services provided or offered by the schools; and • Improve communication with pupils with a disability so that they have access to information which is readily accessible to pupils who are not disabled, ensuring information in writing is available in appropriate alternative formats and takes account of any preferences expressed by them and their parents. The delivery of this must be: • Within a reasonable time. • In ways which are determined after taking account of the pupils’ disabilities and any preferences expressed by them or their parents. 4.3 The Accessibility Strategy relates to all those involved in the education of pupils with disabilities either professionally, as a member of staff within the Education Authority or associated services, or personally, as a child or young person with a disability or a member of their family, or as someone who supports or advocates for them in either a professional or personal capacity. 4.4 The most recent Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan covered the period from 2018 to 2021. There is a statutory requirement that the Strategy and Action Plan is reviewed on a three-yearly basis. 4.5 The draft Accessibility Strategy 2022-2025 and Action Plan (Appendix 1) has been written following collaboration and consultation with key stakeholders, including Headteachers, parents, and partner organisations. This engagement helped to inform priorities, identify ownership of actions and increased signposting, and provided an opportunity to comment on the final draft document. In addition, a public consultation has been completed through the PKC Corporate Consultation Hub, which demonstrated positive endorsement for the direction of the Strategy and actions and strengthened the Action Plan. 4.6 The Equalities Strategic Forum considered the draft Accessibility Strategy 2022-2025 at its meeting on 9 February 2023.
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5. PROPOSALS 5.1 The final draft Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan (Appendix 1) provides direction for the Education Authority and associated services in the delivery of education for children and young people with disabilities. 5.2 This strategy covers the provision of all early learning and childcare and school education provided by the local authority both within and outwith schools, including school activities for disabled children and young people, including those who also have other protected characteristics, this means that it covers education within: • Settings such as schools, community centres and halls. • After school clubs and activities provided within Council owned school premises, including those run or managed by external agencies. 5.3 The strategy ensures that those responsible for the delivery of early learning and childcare and education are aware of their legal duties and assists establishments by providing links to helpful checklists and guidance. 5.4 The Accessibility Strategy requires to be readily available to all stakeholders and will be published on the Council’s website. An easy read version will also be provided on the website and in other formats to support accessibility of information. 6. FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS 6.1 Progress in delivery of the Accessibility Strategy Action Plan 2022-2025 will be monitored annually by the Education and Children’s Service Senior Management Team. Author Name Designation Contact Details Fiona Mackay Service Manager (Inclusion and Additional Support) ECSCommittee@pkc.gov.uk 01738 475000 Approved Name Designation Date Sheena Devlin Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) 14 February 2023
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes/None Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial None Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment Yes Strategic Environmental Assessment N/A Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) N/A Legal and Governance Yes Risk Yes Consultation Internal Yes External Yes Communication Communications Plan Yes 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the delivery of the Perth and Kinross Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement in terms of the following priorities: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (i) and (ii). Corporate Plan 1.2 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the achievement of the Council’s Corporate Plan Objectives. (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (i) and (ii).
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1.3 The report also links to the Education & Children’s Services Vision, Values and Priorities in respect of the following key Priority areas: • Learning and Achievement 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 There are no additional financial implications associated with the implementation of the Accessibility Strategy Action Plan. Workforce 2.2 The Corporate Human Resources Manager has been consulted, and HR colleagues work with the Service to deliver on the ambitions contained within the Strategy and Action Plan. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 The Head of Head of Corporate IT and Revenues/Chief Digital Officer and the Head of Business & Resources has been consulted on relevant actions. 3. Assessments 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. The Equality Impact Assessment undertaken in relation to this report can be viewed by clicking here. 3.1.1 The proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: • Assessed as relevant and the following positive outcomes expected following implementation: • Pupils with disability will have increased opportunity to participate in the curriculum; • Improved physical environment of schools to increase the extent to which pupils with disability can take advantage of education and associated services; • Improved communication with pupils with disability; • Improved attainment and achievement; and • Improved positive destinations.
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Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. 3.2.1 The proposals have been considered under the Act; however, no further action is required as it does not qualify as a PPS as defined by the Act and is therefore exempt. Sustainability 3.3 Under the provisions of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, the Council has to discharge its duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development. Under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 the Council also has a duty relating to climate change and, in exercising its functions must act: • In the way best calculated to delivery of the Act’s emissions reduction targets. • In the way best calculated to deliver any statutory adaption programmes. • In a way that it considers most sustainable. 3.3.1 N/A Legal and Governance 3.4 The Head of Legal and Governance Services has been consulted in the preparation of this report. 3.5 N/A Risk 3.6 A risk register is being compiled to support this Plan. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 Consultation and engagement has taken place with Headteachers, school staff, Equalities Team, Legal Services, Education & Children’s Services Business and Resources Service, Public Transport Unit, ICT, and Services for Children, Young People and Families. Their views have been sought to inform the content of the draft of the Strategy and Action Plan. External 4.2 Consultation and engagement has taken place with NHS Tayside, Allied Health Professionals and third sector organisations. Children, young people and their parents or advocates contributed to the consultation on a draft of the
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Strategy and Action Plan. Consultation was undertaken through the PKC Corporate Consultation Hub. 5. Communication 5.1 The approved Strategy and Action Plan will be made available to the public and all stakeholders through Perth and Kinross Council’s website. Actions are planned to support increased awareness of the strategy and support the engagement of schools and associated services in delivering the actions. Key messages will also be communicated to the wider public, this will include the use of social media. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 The following background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (and not containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to a material extent in preparing the above report: • Planning improvements for disabled pupils' access to education: guidance for education authorities, independent and grant-aided schools (2014) 3. APPENDICES 3.1 Appendix 1 - Perth and Kinross Council Education and Children’s Services Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2025