THE SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITY ACT SENDA

AIMS To provide a briefing on the Act To provide a briefing on the Act To consider the implications for colleges To consider the implications for colleges To consider the implications within the classroom To consider the implications within the classroom

SENDA Amends the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Amends the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Became Part 4 of DDA Became Part 4 of DDA Establishes legal rights for students with disabilities Establishes legal rights for students with disabilities Implemented since September 2002 Implemented since September 2002

PREVIOUSLY.. Tomlinson Report 1996 “inclusive learning” : redesigning the process of learning, assessment and organisation so as to fit the objectives and learning styles of the students. “inclusive learning” : redesigning the process of learning, assessment and organisation so as to fit the objectives and learning styles of the students. Learning and Skills Act 2002 Institutions to promote equality for learners with learning difficulties or disabilities Institutions to promote equality for learners with learning difficulties or disabilities LSC has a duty to have due regard to promoteequality of opportunity LSC has a duty to have due regard to promoteequality of opportunity

Who is protected by the Act ? DDA defines a person with a disability as someone who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial, adverse and long term effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities DDA defines a person with a disability as someone who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial, adverse and long term effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities

Handicap & disability are not interchangeable terms

Avoiding offence Student first : disability second SEN is for schools Mental health difficulties Wheelchair user Deaf/partially hearing Blind/partially sighted Assistants/enablers Avoid normal toilets

Who is responsible under the Act ? Governing bodies Governing bodies LEA/LSC LEA/LSC

Implementation Main implementation Sept 2002 Main implementation Sept 2002 Aids & servicesSept 2003 Aids & servicesSept 2003 Physical featuresSept 2005 Physical featuresSept 2005Anticipatory

Redress available…… Internal complaints ( make sure this is accessible!) Internal complaints ( make sure this is accessible!) County Courts County Courts Disability Rights Commission Disability Rights Commission

What is discrimination ? Treating someone less favourably than someone else for a reason related to their disability Treating someone less favourably than someone else for a reason related to their disability Failing to make reasonable adjustments Failing to make reasonable adjustments

Treating someone less favourably Marketing Marketing Admissions (qualifications,enrolment procedures) Admissions (qualifications,enrolment procedures) Services ( learning support,library,canteen) Services ( learning support,library,canteen) On course On course Teaching ( inc field trips) Teaching ( inc field trips) Work experience Work experience Rooms & resources Rooms & resources enrichment enrichment

Adjustments Staff awareness ( teaching & support staff) Staff awareness ( teaching & support staff) Teaching differentiated Teaching differentiated Classrooms & resources accessible Classrooms & resources accessible Assessment/accreditation planned Assessment/accreditation planned  Must not over-ride academic standards  Other learners must be taken into account  Must not contravene Health & Safety regulations…

Health & Safety There may be occasions where Health & Safety considerations over-ride the college’s ability to make reasonable adjustments There may be occasions where Health & Safety considerations over-ride the college’s ability to make reasonable adjustments Must not be used to avoid making adjustments Policies & procedures must anticipate students with disabilities ( inc Risk Assessments, fire evacuation procedures ) Policies & procedures must anticipate students with disabilities ( inc Risk Assessments, fire evacuation procedures ) Medication : ensure have qualified staff Medication : ensure have qualified staff

Anticipatory Adjustments should be made in anticipation of students with disabilities applying. Adjustments should be made in anticipation of students with disabilities applying. Action plans, resources, support, training all available Action plans, resources, support, training all available Disability Policy no longer legally required but it is good practice to have one Disability Policy no longer legally required but it is good practice to have one

Reasonable Very expensive structural adjustments ( 2%) Size and resources of the college ( LSC) Physical access to all courses (rooming/timetabling) How affects other students

Disclosure Failure to disclose a disability will be seen as a justifiable reason for not making adjustments so long a opportunities to disclose given. Failure to disclose a disability will be seen as a justifiable reason for not making adjustments so long a opportunities to disclose given. Make disclosure comfortable ( be open about range of support& resources available ) Make disclosure comfortable ( be open about range of support& resources available ) Opportunities to disclose once course as started Opportunities to disclose once course as started Not up to the student to inform all staff ( check Data Protection ) Not up to the student to inform all staff ( check Data Protection ) Working procedures in place to respond to disclosure Working procedures in place to respond to disclosure Working procedures in place to review provision Working procedures in place to review provision

Environment/Accessibility More than lifts and ramps… Procedures & possibility to relocate courses Procedures & possibility to relocate courses Doors : heavy, swing back, high handles Doors : heavy, swing back, high handles Deaf awareness : loop, noisy rooms Deaf awareness : loop, noisy rooms Visual impairment : sineage, lighting, paths & stairs Visual impairment : sineage, lighting, paths & stairs Personal care facilities Personal care facilities Individual specific needs : height of tables, seating, switches, software etc Individual specific needs : height of tables, seating, switches, software etc

Accessibility of teaching materials Will obviously depend on individual student’s needs but have available : Will obviously depend on individual student’s needs but have available : Learning support Learning support Accessible notes & handouts Accessible notes & handouts Links with advisors Links with advisors Accessible field trips ( inc travel) Accessible field trips ( inc travel)

Have a go time

What next ? Feedback Feedback Audit Audit own courses Awareness Awareness of current students ? when interviewing Need Need for more information/training : Data Protection, Differentiation, specific disabilities

Support Line managers & Professional Tutors Line managers & Professional Tutors Learning Services Learning Services Study tutor Study tutor In class support In class support Reports Reports Resources Resources Teaching advice Teaching advice Reviews Reviews Links to advisors Links to advisors Skill : Skill : Tool kit Tool kit