The Disability Discrimination Act requires us to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities. These duties are required to be anticipatory, that is, we need to think ahead and consider what we may need to do for these students before any difficulties arise. We aim to anticipate, assess and minimise any barriers, physical or otherwise, that might interfere with the student maximising their learning time with us. We want every child to have the opportunity to fulfil their educational potential.

Kirk Balk School will make reasonable adjustments for such students and will not treat a child with a disability less favourably. For example, reasonable adjustments already include ramps to enable those in wheelchairs to access all but a few upstairs rooms and stairs have been treated to make them more visible to those with sensory impairment. Wherever reasonably possible we will adjust our environment, and other practices such as our policies and procedures, to take account of individual needs. It is therefore helpful for us to have an idea of need prior to the student starting in school so that we can explore these issues with them and their parents/carer beforehand.

We are very fortunate that the design of our new school has taken our anticipatory duty for disabled students fully into account. The design includes lifts, ramps, disabled toilets and wide doorways so that no child is discriminated against in terms of physical environment.