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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he is taking to (a) monitor and (b) improve provision of facilities for sports and physical recreation for pupils with disabilities who attend mainstream schools. [197765] Margaret Hodge: All schools have a duty under Part 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)1995 prepare an accessibility plan for increasing over time the accessibility of schools to disabled pupils. The plan is expected to cover increasing access to the curriculum (including PE and sport) and the physical environment of the school, so that disabled pupils can take advantage of education and associated services. Ofsted monitors how schools are carrying out the planning duties as part of their ongoing inspections of schools. In the first planning period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2006, some £300 million is being made available to local education authorities in England through the Schools Access Initiative for projects to improve the accessibility of mainstream schools to disabled pupils. In 2003, DfES published a training CD-ROM "Success For All". This features a series of filmed case studies showing how teachers in mainstream and special schools include pupils with a range of disabilities in PE and sport. The disc offers lesson plans and points users to relevant resources. Our PE, School Sport and Club Links Strategy aims to increase the numbers of 5 to 16-year-olds who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport and makes clear that all children, including disabled children should be able to participate.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

197765; 426 c2105W;426 c2111W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Access Disability Facilities Pupils Schools Sports

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk