At Thames Park Secondary School, part of the Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust, we believe every student should have the best chance to succeed. Our school is built on strong co-operative values like equality, fairness, self-help, responsibility, and care for others. These values guide everything we do to make our school inclusive and welcoming for all.
We aim to help every young person grow into confident, capable individuals. We want them to do well in school, feel good socially, enjoy personal success, and be active in their community. To support this, we have created an Accessibility Plan that focuses on removing any barriers that may hold our students back.
Our Inclusion Goals
At Thames Park, we want each student to:
- Learn important skills for the future
- Be confident and know the difference between right and wrong
- Learn to be independent and take charge of their learning
- Work well with others and always try their best
We also believe that working closely with parents and carers is key. By working together, we can give our young people the best possible education and support.
National Education Background
In the UK, laws like the Equality Act 2010 and the SEN and Disability Act 2001 help protect the rights of disabled students. Schools must make sure they do not treat disabled students unfairly. They must also make changes if needed to support these students, including adding extra equipment or changing how things are done.
Schools must also plan how to improve their buildings and learning environments over time so that they are more accessible to everyone.
Our Approach at Thames Park School
We are committed to including all students in school life, unless a different setting would better support their full learning needs. We want to make sure our school offers flexible and inclusive options for every student.
To do this, we focus on four main areas:
Access to the Curriculum
We make sure our teaching works for every student. Teachers adapt lessons based on individual needs. We use:
- Different teaching styles and learning programmes
- Catch-up support for students falling behind in literacy or maths
- Transition help for vulnerable students
- Regular reviews to check if extra help is working
- Staff training to improve inclusive teaching
We want every student to reach their potential, and we invest time and money wisely to help make that happen.
Access to the Environment
We make changes to our school buildings and classrooms where needed. For example:
- Safe, quiet areas for students with autism or emotional needs
- Visual aids and clear signs
- Changes to reduce noise or bright lights
- Handrails and ramps for students with mobility issues
We also work with experts from health and education to make sure our school environment supports all types of needs.
Supporting Communication, Learning, and Emotional Needs
For students with special educational needs (SEN), we offer:
- Individual learning support
- Special areas for social activities and life skills
- Flexible timetables
- Guidance for teachers on behaviour and emotional well-being
We also make sure the physical space is supportive. This includes quiet areas, safe routes around the school, and adjustments to lighting or sounds to avoid sensory overload.
Helping Students with Physical, Visual, and Hearing Needs
We take practical steps to support students with different needs:
- Provide special desks, therapy spaces, and safe classrooms
- Make sure trips are accessible
- Improve lighting, signs, and sound systems
- Use tools like “sound fields” to improve classroom listening
New buildings follow modern standards for sound and accessibility, and staff receive training when needed.
School Buildings and Admissions
We make sure all new or improved buildings have the right spaces and layouts to support inclusion. Any small changes that help a student will be considered. We never discourage the admission of any student based on a disability.
Working with Families
We know how important parents and carers are in a child’s learning journey. We listen to them, involve them, and work together to create the best support system for each student.
Access to Information
We ensure all our information is accessible. We provide details in different formats when needed and explain in our prospectus how we support all learners. Parents can always request printed copies if they don’t have internet access.
Thames Park Secondary School is deeply committed to making education accessible for all students. We continue to develop our staff, improve our school environment, and work closely with families and local authorities. By focusing on the individual needs of each student, we aim to remove barriers, open up opportunities, and help every young person thrive both in and out of the classroom.
