Written question WQ94917

As the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s recent inquiry has shown there are often barriers that prevent disabled children and young people from accessing education. This could be a lack of a disabled toilet or lift. It could also be the lack of specialist equipment or spaces, like a pen grip or a sensory room.

Schools and local authorities have a duty to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils. This duty requires a school to take positive steps to ensure that disabled pupils can fully participate in the education provided by the school and enjoy the other benefits, facilities and services which the school provides.

The Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme is investing over £750 million over the next nine years to continue to improve and expand existing facilities and create new specialist provision. Officials will be reviewing our guidance, ‘Planning to increase access to schools for disabled pupils, with a view to considering whether it can be strengthened any further and whether there is scope for further alignment with the requirements of Welsh Building Standards.