Aims

Schools are required under the Equality Act 2010 to have an accessibility plan. The purpose of the plan is to:

• Increase the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the curriculum.
• Improve the physical environment of the school to enable disabled pupils to take better advantage of education, benefits, facilities and services provided.
• Improve the availability of accessible information to disabled pupils.

Our school aims to treat all its pupils fairly and with respect. This involves providing access and opportunities for all pupils without discrimination of any kind.

In addition to meeting its statutory duties under the Equality Act 2010, the school is committed to creating an inclusive environment that supports participation, wellbeing, independence and achievement for all pupils, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The school will seek to identify and reduce environmental barriers relating to physical access, sensory processing, communication, emotional regulation, navigation, wellbeing and participation. Accessibility and inclusion considerations will form part of ongoing estate management, refurbishment, maintenance and school improvement activities.

At Sunnyfields, we aim to ensure that every child feels part of a growing garden.

Through providing the right care, support and environment, we aim to provide all children with the skills and confidence they need to flourish. Our GARDEN values guide everything we do, supporting pupils to grow together, develop a strong sense of belonging, show respect, build resilience, communicate confidently and nurture kindness.

By embedding these values in daily school life, we aim to help children develop strong roots in character, relationships and learning, enabling them to achieve bright and successful futures.

 

Our Ethos Statement

Motto: Strong Roots and Bright Futures

At Sunnyfields School, we are committed to creating a nurturing, inclusive and aspirational environment where every child can thrive. We believe that pupils learn best when they feel safe, valued and connected, and we actively promote a strong sense of belonging within our school community.

Our ethos is underpinned by our motto, “Strong Roots and Bright Futures,” and brought to life through our GARDEN values, which shape the culture, behaviour and expectations of our school.

As outlined in our whole-school values framework, we encourage all pupils to:

• Grow Together – work collaboratively, support one another and maintain a positive attitude
• All Belong – Ensure everyone feels welcomed, valued, and a true sense of inclusion.
• Respect For All – show respect for others, the environment and school resources
• Dig Deep – develop resilience, solve problems and build independence
• Express Yourself – communicate clearly, listen to others, ask questions and think creatively
• Nurture Kindness – care for one another with compassion, demonstrating kindness and good manners

These values are consistently modelled by staff and embedded across all aspects of school life, including teaching and learning, behaviour, relationships and the wider curriculum.

At Sunnyfields, we view learning as a journey of growth. Our broad and engaging curriculum is designed to develop curiosity, creativity, ambition and independence,

While also equipping pupils with the knowledge and skills they need for future success. We promote high expectations for all, encouraging pupils to take pride in their achievements and persevere through challenge.

Our school environment reflects our identity as a nurturing garden, with each class named after native flowers, reinforcing the idea that every child grows and flourishes in their own unique way. Through strong relationships, clear expectations and a shared commitment to our values, we create a culture where pupils feel empowered to succeed with a strong desire to learn.

Together, we work as a community to ensure that every child develops the strong roots of character, confidence and resilience needed to flourish into respectful, responsible and compassionate individuals with bright futures ahead.

Our school is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in line with the Equality Act 2010 and the expectations set out in the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework.

We uphold the following principles:

• Compliance with the Equality Act 2010: We actively work to eliminate discrimination, harassment, and victimisation, and we make reasonable adjustments to ensure that pupils with disabilities are not placed at a disadvantage. We recognise and support all protected characteristics, including race, disability, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation, and others.

• Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED): We have due regard to the need to:
  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination and other prohibited conduct.
  • Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
  • Foster good relations between different groups within the school community.

• Inclusive curriculum and environment: In line with Ofsted’s expectations, we provide a broad, balanced, and inclusive curriculum that reflects the diversity of our pupils and prepares them for life in modern Britain. We ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND, have access to high-quality teaching and learning.

• Policies and training: Our policies on behaviour, safeguarding, admissions, and recruitment reflect our commitment to equality. Staff receive regular training to ensure they understand their responsibilities and can support all pupils effectively.

• Monitoring and accountability: We regularly review our practices and outcomes to ensure that no group is disadvantaged. We publish equality objectives and monitor progress towards them, as required under the Equality Act.

Through these values and actions, we aim to create a school culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to thrive.

We recognise that barriers to learning and participation are not limited to physical access. Some pupils may experience challenges relating to sensory processing, neurodiversity, communication, emotional regulation, anxiety, medical needs or independence. We will seek to understand and remove these barriers wherever reasonably practicable through inclusive practice and environmental design.

The plan will be made available online on the school website, and paper copies are available upon request.

Our school is also committed to ensuring staff are trained in equality issues with reference to the Equality Act 2010, including understanding disability issues.

The school supports any available partnerships to develop and implement the plan.

Our school’s complaints procedure covers the accessibility plan. If you have any concerns relating to accessibility in school, the complaints procedure sets out the process for raising these concerns.

The school will actively involve pupils, parents and carers, staff, governors and, where appropriate, specialist professionals in the assessment, development, implementation and review of accessibility and inclusion improvements. Particular consideration will be given to the views and experiences of pupils with SEND and disabilities to ensure that accessibility planning reflects lived experience and day-to-day barriers.