St Joseph’s school aims to deliver an ambitious vision for pupils with disabilities that is demonstrated by all staff.

The school aims to ensure that pupils with disabilities make good progress from their starting points through flexible quality first teaching incorporating adaptations and modifications to enable access and interventions, where appropriate.

The school aims to ‘level the playing field’ for those with disabilities and strives to provide appropriate, well considered support that is delivered seamlessly across all teaching, learning and social situations and maximises independence.

We are committed to taking a pro-active approach to making reasonable adjustments involving current and subsequent identified needs of disabled persons. The school will identify all staff development needs in order to promote disability awareness and the acquisition of skills to respond positively to all members of the community with a disability.

Within the curriculum, positive attitudes to disability will be encouraged within PSHE (SMILE) lessons and through whole school and class assemblies to support the recognition and celebration of diversity.

Definition of disability

A disabled person is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial or long term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities.

• A physical or mental impairment includes sensory impairments, impairment relating to mental functioning including learning disabilities, long term health conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, HIV, cancer or multiple sclerosis.

• Long Term means an impairment that has lasted at least 12 months or is expected to last at least 12 months.

• Normal day to day activities cover the following categories: mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination, continence, ability to lift, carry or move objects, speech, hearing or eye sight, memory or ability to concentrate, learn or understand

• All staff will demonstrate knowledge of equality legislation in relation to pupils, staff and visitors with disabilities and understand their role in implementing it.
• All staff will have a ‘can do’ attitude underpinned by a collaborative, problem-solving, solution focussed approach to new challenges as they arise.
• The school will have systems in place that support the access and inclusion of pupils with disabilities
• The school will continue to improve the physical school environment and facilities to enable pupils with complex physical needs to fully access the school site.