School staff are aware of the access needs of disabled pupils, staff and parents/ carers. School visits are accessible to all pupils irrespective of attainment or impairment.  Please refer to our Accessibility Policy and Plan / SEND for detailed information.

If you have a speech or hearing impairment you can contact us by dialling 018001 and then the school’s number including the area code.   For more information on this service please click on the following link:  http://ngts.org.uk/

Location

The school is situated within the Lancaster Park  housing estate on the northern perimeter of Morpeth.  There is a steep gradient into the estate but the road the school is located on is flat and level.  The nearest mainline Railway Station is 1.6 miles from the school and the bus station is located 1 mile.  Local buses run to the estate and there is a main bus stop 600 m from the main school entrance.  

Parking

This venue does have its own car park with a tarmac surface.  This may be used as a designated drop off point or alternatively for longer stay, a disabled car parking spaces is available. Entry to the car park is a via a key press operated system which can be remotely controlled from the office.  The entry code is provided freely to all registered parents/carers.  If you need assistance entering the school site please telephone 01670 512803 ext. 4 upon arrival and we will remotely lift the barrier for you.

Access to the main entrance

The main doors open towards you (pull) and are double width. Please note these doors are heavy. There are no steps leading into main office.

Inside Access

Classrooms are spread across the ground floor. At present, there is not a hearing assistance system and the lighting levels are varied.  Motorized scooters are allowed in public parts of the venue, although visitors must note that they cannot charge scooters or wheelchairs inside the school building.

Accessible toilet

There is a disabled toilet facility near the main school entrance.

Accessible Communication Formats (Government guidance)

Producing accessible materials for print or online (Abilitynet)

Creating clear print and large print documents (UK Association for Accessible Formats)

The Sensory Trust information sheet on clear and large print

Am I making myself clear? (Mencap’s guidelines for accessible writing)

Dyslexia Style Guide (British Dyslexia Association)

The school will use the DfE checklists ‘Identifying Barriers to Access in order to draw up its access audit checklist and action plan. Morpeth All Saints CE Aided First School’s building is designed to meet the needs of disabled pupils. The school was built in 1972. During 2006/2007 a large extension was constructed which followed the publication of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; many features of the school confirm with the requirements of this legislation. All rooms are on the same level; all public-access rooms, including front and back entrances, toilets, library and hall are on the same level, with no steps to the main front entrance/KS2 rear access. However, entrance to KS1, Nursery and external classroom doors have one single step. Wide access doors allow entrance to main school foyer/offices and hall. Two internal doors in the KS1 corridor and KS1 corridor entrance to school hall have limited access space – see action plan). There are two disabled toilets one in the main KS1/KS2 corridor and one near the main entrance foyer; doors are wide enough to allow access to rooms and corridors; handles on corridor doors are at the height of wheelchair users and emergency cord pulls installed. There is a designated disabled person’s parking bay in the staff car park with level access to the main school site and entrances. There are no external steps leading onto the school grounds. There is, however, a single step to the KS1 entrance door and to each of the external classroom doors. A low level ramp leads to the main entrance door and to the KS2 entrance door.