Alan, it is not just service duties but they need to meet the public sector duties which we all know go considerably further. External pitches are always difficult, they are often up a hill and miles from the main school. The schools need to understand that any visitor to the school has rights, more than the pupils do actually.
This could be managed, in that if Mrs Smith wanted to watch her grandson Jonny playing football, they should make sure that he plays his match at the most accessible spectator pitch. They could use roll out paths for sports days, provided the gradient is adequate etc. Use terrain buggies possibly, etc, what must be completed is an assessment of the measures required, measures taken and a statement as to how this can be managed to ensure people are not disappointed (discriminated against).
I am on the road today but will give you a call Alan. I hope the weather is good with you a couple of friends are in Pembrokeshire this week, walking and cycling.
Regards Jane
Jane Simpson
Sent from laptop
M: 07777607239
T: 01484423501
-----Original Message-----
From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hunt, Alan
Sent: 15 September 2014 09:53
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Access to school playing fields etc
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Hello Claire
Many thanks for your response.
As you have also found it can be difficult to make sure that all school facilities are accessible to all users just because there is no statutory requirement. It seems that common sense has gone out of the window when certain accessibility features are provided just because they have to be, because there is a statutory requirement, and others such as those we have mentioned are not despite the assertion of developers, education authorities etc that they design and think inclusively. They fail to see it seems that the minimum standards for a ramp for instance surely apply wherever it happens to be located within a school. Instead they think it is ok to cut corners by making it too steep and/or long when it falls outside the scope of a regulation. This flies in the face of their assertions to design and think inclusively...
I have managed to get most of these issues covered now in our specification for new school standards, mainly because I have pointed out to our education authority that the duties under the Equality Act apply...
> as service providers when the public visits the school or uses school
> facilities and under the schools planning duties where schools and education authorities have to plan to generally improve physical access to schools over time (but not for individual pupils) using the information gathered via section B of the schools access plans.
Once again thanks for your response...Slowly does it and never give up...
Regards
Alan
Alan Hunt
Access Officer
Pembrokeshire County Council
County Hall
Haverfordwest
SA61 1TP
Tel: 01437 775148
-----Original Message-----
From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Claire Hyland
Sent: 12 September 2014 12:26
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Access to school playing fields etc
Hello Alan,
Sorry for the very delayed reply but I have been busy with exams and job changes at the moment. I've been doing research on school design in Scotland, so it might be slightly different to England, but some interesting points I've come across are:
*
Unfortunately it seems that no mandatory regulations apply when it comes to accessing a school's facilities. Statutory regulations (regarding surface treatment, furniture zoning, contrast etc.) apply only to an 'accessible route'. This is provided from the principal entrance of a building to other entrances within that building, to other buildings within the same curtilage, to an accessible car parking space and to a road. There appears to be no mention of core facilities provided by the building (that might include sports grounds etc).
*
The Equality Act (and DDA) has a loophole that educational bodies are not required to remove or make reasonable alterations to physical barriers. However, service providers are required to do this. This is important because some local authorities consider themselves to be service providers and therefore place this duty on themselves. Some schools offer community facilities and may therefore also be considered to be providing a service. If any school wanted to offer their facilities in the future then complying with best practice guidance would prevent future changes being made.
* Speaking to some local authorities, it seems that the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils' Educational Records) (Scotland) Act 2002 is the most effective piece of legislation, in requiring each local authority to prepare, review and implement an accessibility strategy (which includes the physical environment of the school). Many local authorities have had access audits undertaken of their entire school building stock. However, some research by SDEF (link below) has found that these are not being undertaken consistently.
SDEF research
http://www.sdef.org.uk/index.php/sdef-resource-centre/consultations/consultation-responses-sdef/32-excluded-how-scotlands-schools-are-failing-to-plan-for-disabled-pupils-needs-1/file
You may have come across some of these before but I hope this email can still be of some use to you.
Kind regards,
Claire
Claire Hyland
PhD Student
Department of Architecture
University of Strathclyde
Email: [log in to unmask]
________________________________________
From: Accessibuilt list [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Alan Hunt [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 28 July 2014 12:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Access to school playing fields etc
It seems that access to school playing fields are not covered by AD M and so I have discovered that some new schools are being designed without steps and ramps if necessary to overcome a change in level. I have also come across ramp and path gradients which are not being installed to any known standard and inappropriate path surfaces such as gravel are being used. I have challenged these, if nothing else on the grounds of common sense, but have come against a brick wall because there is no standard which says specifically that these facilities must be accessible to all. I know that BS 8300 does include buildings and associated facilities but this is considered a recommendation and not a requirement.
I have searched the obvious including Building Bulletins and the Schools Standards and Framework Act etc but can't find anything.
Does anyone know of a statutory standard which can be applied in these circumstances?
Regards
Alan
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