SEND update from Assistant Directors of Education

9 May 2025

KCC has published its refreshed SEND Strategy 2025-28 as part of our commitment to make changes and long-lasting improvements to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in Kent.

When we consulted on the SEND Strategy, we also consulted on two further documents which will support school inclusion. These were the Education Accessibility Strategy and the School Access Initiative (SAI) Policy and Procedure. The documents have now been adopted and are available through the links below:

Education Accessibility Strategy

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 (the “Act”) places a duty on the local authority to prepare a written accessibility strategy relating to the schools it is responsible for (community, foundation, voluntary aided and voluntary controlled schools).

The Act stipulates that the purpose of an accessibility strategy is to:

  1. Increase the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the schools’ curriculums;
  2. Improve the physical environment of the schools to increase the extent to which disabled pupils can make best use of the opportunities available at the schools; and
  3. Improve delivery of accessible information to disabled pupils of information which is readily accessible to pupils who are not disabled.

The strategy outlines the actions that the local authority currently undertakes to support pupils in the three areas above, the expectations of schools in each regard and the actions that the Local Authority will undertake to improve things further.

We would suggest that the Education Accessibility Strategy is shared with school staff (in particular SENCOs) and governors so they are aware of the support and resources currently available to schools. It will also remind them of their duties and responsibilities.

One example would be the duty on responsible bodies of schools (i.e. governing bodies and trusts) to prepare a written accessibility plan. The Key has a model accessibility plan which may support governing bodies and trusts discharging this duty.

To access the resources, you will need to be a member of The Key. The Key website contains links to the following documents:

  • Model accessibility plan (schools),
  • Checklist for accessibility plan (schools),
  • Model accessibility plan (trusts),
  • Accessibility policy checklist (trusts), and
  • Links to examples of accessibility policies from different schools.

Inclusive classrooms

It is appreciated that the physical accessibility of schools is only one barrier to full accessibility. Some pupils may benefit from the environment being adapted to create ‘inclusive classrooms.’ In many cases, the adaptations required are low cost. To further support schools and trusts in reviewing their environment and to plan adaptations from their own budgets, Rory McDonnell (Head of STLS Sensory and Physical Disabilities) has created an environmental audit (DOCX, 35.3 KB) which schools can use to identify adaptations that could be made to support a variety of need types.

In addition, there is a presentation available from Rory - Adapting your school Environment to Support Neurodiverse Children (PDF, 3.1 MB).

Further guidance is also available from the Autism Education Trust and the Guide Dogs for The Blind:

Accessibility Information

As set out in the Education Accessibility Strategy, we have been working to improve the accessibility information available to parents and carers when applying for a school place. Thank you to all schools for providing information about the physical accessibility of your schools which is now published alongside the school admissions information for parents and carers:

In addition, we have a School Accessibility App which users can search for individual schools or across an area to see their accessibility information.

The information held will be updated annually.

School Access Initiative (SAI) Policy and Procedure

As the body responsible for capital funding in community, foundation and voluntary controlled schools, the County Council sets aside a capital funding stream, the Schools Access Initiative (SAI), to enable it to improve the physical accessibility of these schools. The School Access Initiative (SAI) Policy and Procedure outlines how these schools can apply for adaptations for individual pupils which will cost in excess of £10,000. For a Word version of ‘Appendix B1 Stage 2: SAI Referral Form’ contact your Assistant Director Education.

The capital funding for voluntary aided schools, academies and free schools is through either their responsible body’s School Capital Allocation (SCA) or through a Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) application to the DfE.

The County Council is working to proactively ensure equitable access to school places across Kent. Using the school accessibility information we now hold we are identifying any gaps and pulling together a programme of accessibility projects.