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ARRANGEMENTS FOR
THE ADMISSION OF DISABLED STUDENTS
The Governing Body
is fully committed to the provisions of the Disability Discrimination
Act (1995) and will ensure that all pupils with special needs are able
to join in, as far as is practical, everyday activities with other pupils.
This commitment extends to maintaining an Accessibility Plan and ensuring
that pupils with disabilities have access to the curriculum.
The Act defines a disabled person as one who has “a physical or mental
impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s
ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”. This would include,
for example, sensory impairments affecting sight and hearing, learning
disabilities, severe disfigurements and progressive conditions where impairments
are likely to become substantial.
The school’s current admission arrangements include a provision for
parents to make statements drawing attention to any medical condition
requiring special consideration by the Admissions Committee. The school’s
pastoral system, through the Heads of Year, is then responsible for making
any necessary preparations for the admission of a pupil with either special
educational needs (SEN) or a disability within the terms of the Act. The
school’s SEN co-ordinator, together with the school nurse, assume
responsibility for monitoring progress and regular reviews of pupils with
disabilities.
The DDA (1995) requires that by 2004, all service providers should make
“reasonable” adjustments to their premises to overcome any barriers
to access. Old buildings such as Nonsuch that are built on several levels
present particular problems but it has nevertheless been possible to plan
and achieve some important improvements. The most notable of these is
the installation of an eight-person lift that will provide access from
the main entrance to the first, second and roof levels, where the new
astronomy observatory will be located. Other recently completed works
at Nonsuch include the provision of ramped access at the main entrance
and a new disabled toilet facility on the ground floor.
The Governing Body is committed to ensuring that a programme of improvements
will continue to improve disabled access at Nonsuch.
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