Schools in the UK are obliged to accept disabled children and help them to participate fully in school life. No school is allowed to discriminate against a child on the grounds that they have a disability and the admission process should be exactly the same as any other child. All schools are also obliged to make efforts to make schools as accessible as possible for children with disabilities to uphold disabled independence. Schools must produce a disability plan, which outlines details of improvements that will be made to accommodate disabled pupils. This includes adapting the curriculum and aspects of school life, as well as making physical changes to school, such as putting ramps in.
Choosing a school
If your child has special education needs, you may consider sending them to a specialist school, which is equipped to deal with children with learning difficulties or disabilities. Some parents are worried that their child will not receive the attention they need at a mainstream school, while others are concerned about bullying. It is up to you what type of school you decide to send your child to but you can contact your local authority or charities to get advice and information to help you make a decision.
Many disabled children do very well as mainstream schools and schools are working to promote integration. New measures to stop bullying and provide vulnerable children with additional support have been introduced and children with disabilities will receive additional support from members of staff at school. This is designed to help in all areas of school life, including social integration, academic study, practical issues and making the most of their time at school.
Support at school
Many disabled children will require help with their academic studies, as well as support when it comes to making friends and coping with the demands of school life. Children will be allocated a key worker, who will offer support on a variety of matters and build a strong, lasting relationship with the child. The key worker will also be able to take care of practical arrangements and will liaise with teachers and parents, but will also ensure that there is sufficient disabled independence for the child.
Further education
Many people with disabilities leave school and go on to complete further education courses. There is funding (including the Disabled Student’s Allowance) and financial assistance available for these people. If you are considering going to university or college and want to know what your rights are, what kind of financial assistance you can expect and information about choosing a college and a course, you can visit the DirectGov website or arrange to visit the organisations you are interested in. They should all have good facilities for students with disabilities, but you may find that you prefer some to others.