Equality Act 2010

Accessibility strategies E+W+S

1 (1) A local authority in England and Wales must, in relation to schools for which it is the responsible body, prepare— E+W+S

(a) an accessibility strategy;

(b) further such strategies at such times as may be prescribed.

(2) An accessibility strategy is a strategy for, over a prescribed period—

(a) increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the schools' curriculums;

(b) improving the physical environment of the schools 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;

(c) improving the delivery to disabled pupils of information which is readily accessible to pupils who are not disabled.

(3) The delivery in sub-paragraph (2)(c) must be—

(a) within a reasonable time;

(b) in ways which are determined after taking account of the pupils' disabilities and any preferences expressed by them or their parents.

(4) An accessibility strategy must be in writing.

(5) A local authority must keep its accessibility strategy under review during the period to which it relates and, if necessary, revise it.

(6) A local authority must implement its accessibility strategy.

2 (1) In preparing its accessibility strategy, a local authority must have regard to— E+W+S

(a) the need to allocate adequate resources for implementing the strategy;

(b) guidance as to the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (3).

(2) The authority must also have regard to guidance as to compliance with paragraph 1(5).

(3) The matters are—

(a) the content of an accessibility strategy;

(b) the form in which it is to be produced;

(c) persons to be consulted in its preparation.

(4) Guidance may be issued—

(a) for England, by a Minister of the Crown;

(b) for Wales, by the Welsh Ministers.

(5) A local authority must, if asked, make a copy of its accessibility strategy available for inspection at such reasonable times as it decides.

(6) A local authority in England must, if asked by a Minister of the Crown, give the Minister a copy of its accessibility strategy.

(7) A local authority in Wales must, if asked by the Welsh Ministers, give them a copy of its accessibility strategy.