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Accessibility plan: model and guidance

All schools must have an accessibility plan. Follow our step-by-step guide, download our model plan or use our checklist, and see examples from schools and trusts.

Last reviewed on 27 March 2025
Ref: 41592
Statutory/mandatory for:
Maintained schools
Academies
Free schools
Independent schools
Sixth-form colleges
Pupil referral units
Non-maintained special schools
Contents
  1. Step 1: conduct an accessibility audit
  2. Step 2: write your accessibility plan or download our model
  3. Step 3: get governors' approval
  4. Step 4: publish your plan
  5. Step 5: review your plan every 3 years
  6. See examples from schools

Under the Equality Act 2010, all schools are required to have an accessibility plan, but you're free to decide on its format.

The plan should cover how you intend to:

  • Increase the extent to which pupils with disabilities can participate in the curriculum
  • Improve the physical environment to enable pupils with disabilities to take better advantage of the education, benefits, facilities and services you provide
  • Improve the availability of accessible information to pupils with disabilities

This is explained in the DfE's advice for schools on the Equality Act (paragraph 4.29).

You're not required to have a separate accessibility policy, although some schools set out their accessibility plan in a document with an accessibility policy.

Read on for step-by-step advice on writing and reviewing your plan.

You can combine this with your health and safety inspections, to save you having to assess the school more than once. You don't need to publish your accessibility