13 March 2001

Schools Minister Jacqui Smith today announced the allocation of £50million to Local Education Authorities to spend on increasing access to schools for disabled pupils. This allocation represents a five fold increase in the funding for disability access since 1996-97.

This is the first tranche of £220 million that will be available over the next three years to improve physical access to schools for disabled children. The Schools Access Initiative (SAI) allocation for 2001-02 will be used to improve facilities in mainstream schools, ranging from lifts for children with mobility impairments to sound field systems for deaf children and better signposting for partially sighted and blind children.

Jacqui Smith also hosted the launch of the NUT/Scope's evaluation report on the
Schools Access Initiative, 'Within Reach', today. The report endorses the benefits that the initiative is bringing to help create a more inclusive education system.

The Schools Access Initiative, together with the Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability Bill which is currently in Parliament, demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving access to education for disabled people. The Bill received its third reading in the House of Lords on 1 March and has now passed to the Commons. The Bill places a duty on Local Education Authorities and schools to plan progressively to increase the accessibility of schools and the curriculum to disabled children.

Jacqui Smith, visiting George Green School in Tower Hamlets, said today:

"We are committed to improving equality and standards in education for children with disabilities. The Schools Access Initiative and the SEN and Disability Bill are important steps in achieving our aim."

"As we set out in the recent Green Paper, we see inclusion and equality of opportunity as being an important part of our drive to promote higher standards. Mainstream and special schools both have a vital role in delivering this agenda.

"Over the next three years we will spend £220 million on the Schools Access
Initiative to fund the installation of lifts and handrails, the purchase of specialist furniture or computer equipment, and improved facilities for blind and deaf children.

"The Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill will outlaw discrimination against disabled people in their access to education and will place a duty on schools and Local Education Authorities to plan to improve the accessibility of their schools to disabled children.

"We particularly welcome the 'Within Reach' Report which shows that the Schools Access Initiative is making a real difference by improving access to schools and the curriculum and attitudes to children with disabilities. But there is still a lot to be done and we will take account of the findings of the report."

Doug McAvoy, NUT General Secretary, said:

"As well as improving access to the curriculum for disabled pupils, the initiative has allowed them to build the sort of long-term friendships which simply would not have been possible before. This report clearly shows how the SAI has helped change all pupils
attitudes to disability."

Richard Brewster, Chief Executive for Scope, said:

"The report shows that Government is absolutely right to invest so significantly in access for disabled children. It is heartening to see that all pupils and teachers at schools funded through the SAI are reaping the rewards from the £45m spent so far.

"Obviously future investment is needed, but the report highlights that more teachers, more governors and more LEAs need to be aware of this fund that can bring benefits to their pupils and colleagues."

Jacqui Smith also set out details of how £172 million access funding for further and higher education (2002-04), announced last November, will be allocated. Further Education will receive £20 million in 2002-03 and £46 million in 2003-04; Higher Education will receive £15 million in 2002-03 and £41 million in 2003-04; Adult and Community Learning will receive £11 million in 2002-03 and £24 million in 2003-04 and Youth Service provision will receive £7 million in 2002-03 and £8 million in 2003-04.

Editor's Notes

This Press Notice applies to England on SAI and Britain on the SEND Bill.

1. The Schools Access Initiative (SAI) has run since 1996 and has supported over 6,000 projects to date. The DfEE has announced substantial increases in the SAI - £220 million - over the next three years. There will be £50 million available through the SAI in 2001-02 and the DfEE will be writing to each LEA shortly to confirm their allocation. See Annex A for breakdown. £50 million is a five fold increase in the funding for disability access since 1996-97.

2. The 'Within Reach' report identifies how the SAI has supported the inclusion of disabled pupils in schools. The evaluation was carried out by PriceWaterhouse Coopers on behalf of the NUT and Scope. It was launched today at the Institute of Directors, and it recommends that the SAI should continue.

3. The £172 million for improving access to post-16 education was formally announced on 6 November 2000 (PN 2000:0482). A breakdown is supplied in Annex B.

4. Jacqui Smith also today announced 10 separate projects in eight schools across the country, with total funding almost £645,000. See LPN 2001/0093.Click here to see tables

Contact Details

Public enquiries: 0870 000 2288, info@dfee.gov.uk

Press Notice 2001/0131