Miss-Delectable
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AN equality charity has warned Bristol City Council not to discriminate against deaf children.
An equality charity has warned Bristol City Council not to discriminate against deaf children.
Following a proposal to close Elmfield School for Deaf Children, in Westbury-on-Trym, Equality South West (ESW) has written to the local authority to remind it of its obligations under equality legislation.
The council's proposal comes in a review of provision for deaf and hearing impaired pupils which could see the school's secondary department replaced with specialist deaf and hearing impaired resource bases in mainstream schools.
The council has launched a public consultation which will end on February 14.
ESW chief executive Paul Dunn said in considering its plans, the local authority had a legal obligation to ensure disabled pupils were not treated less favourably than other pupils.
He said: "The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful for education providers to discriminate against disabled pupils.
"Also, since December 2006, there has been a legal duty on all public sector organisations to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. This requires schools to have due regard to the need to take steps to meet disabled people's needs – even if this requires more favourable treatment."
Schools also have to carry out an assessment of the impact, or likely impact, of policies and practices on disabled children and adults.
He added: "Parents are important in this too. What do parents – who know their children better than anyone else – think is right for them?"
An equality charity has warned Bristol City Council not to discriminate against deaf children.
Following a proposal to close Elmfield School for Deaf Children, in Westbury-on-Trym, Equality South West (ESW) has written to the local authority to remind it of its obligations under equality legislation.
The council's proposal comes in a review of provision for deaf and hearing impaired pupils which could see the school's secondary department replaced with specialist deaf and hearing impaired resource bases in mainstream schools.
The council has launched a public consultation which will end on February 14.
ESW chief executive Paul Dunn said in considering its plans, the local authority had a legal obligation to ensure disabled pupils were not treated less favourably than other pupils.
He said: "The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful for education providers to discriminate against disabled pupils.
"Also, since December 2006, there has been a legal duty on all public sector organisations to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. This requires schools to have due regard to the need to take steps to meet disabled people's needs – even if this requires more favourable treatment."
Schools also have to carry out an assessment of the impact, or likely impact, of policies and practices on disabled children and adults.
He added: "Parents are important in this too. What do parents – who know their children better than anyone else – think is right for them?"
