Reasonable adjustments at school
What reasonable adjustments your child is entitled to, what schools must do, and what to do if they refuse.
Reasonable adjustments at school
If your child has a disability, their school has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments so they are not put at a substantial disadvantage compared to children without a disability. This duty comes from the Equality Act 2010, and it applies to all schools, whether your child has an EHCP or not.
This is separate from SEN Support. It is a disability rights issue.
What counts as a disability
Under the Equality Act 2010, a disability is a physical or mental condition that has a substantial and long-term effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. 'Long-term' means it has lasted, or is likely to last, at least 12 months.
Many common conditions in children are covered:
- Autism
- ADHD
- Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties
- Anxiety and depression (if severe and long-term)
- Physical disabilities
- Sensory impairments
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
Your child does not need a formal diagnosis for the duty to apply. If the school knows, or should know, that your child has a disability, the duty applies.
What reasonable adjustments look like
Reasonable adjustments depend on your child's needs. Here are some examples:
- A quiet space for a child who is overwhelmed by noise
- Extra time for tasks and tests
- Visual timetables for a child who needs routine and predictability
- Movement breaks for a child who cannot sit still for long periods
- Modified homework that accounts for your child's difficulties
- Alternative arrangements for school trips so your child can take part
- A different start or end time if transitions are difficult
- Allowing ear defenders in class
- Providing instructions in writing as well as verbally
What schools must do
The duty has three parts:
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Change practices or policies that put your child at a disadvantage. For example, if the behaviour policy punishes a child for stimming, and the child stims because of autism, the school must adjust the policy.
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Provide extra aids or services. For example, providing a visual timetable or a fidget tool.
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Make physical changes if the school building puts your child at a disadvantage. For example, providing ramps or accessible toilets.
Schools must anticipate what adjustments children with disabilities might need. They should not wait until a problem arises. The duty is proactive, not reactive.
What 'reasonable' means
The school does not have to do everything you ask. The adjustment must be 'reasonable'. This considers:
- How effective the adjustment would be
- The cost (though schools cannot simply say 'we cannot afford it')
- The practicality of making the change
- The impact on other children
What is reasonable for a large academy trust with significant resources may be different from what is reasonable for a small village school. But even small schools must make adjustments.
What to do if the school refuses
Email the SENCO or head teacher. Describe the adjustment you are asking for, why your child needs it, and reference the Equality Act 2010.
If they refuse, ask them to explain in writing why they consider the adjustment unreasonable.
Contact your local SENDIASS, IPSEA, or the Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) for advice on your next steps.
You can complain to the school's governing body, the local authority, or the Department for Education. For disability discrimination, you can also bring a claim to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND).
If the school says they cannot make an adjustment 'because there is no EHCP', this is wrong. The duty to make reasonable adjustments applies to all disabled children, regardless of whether they have an EHCP.
Try asking this question in a chat:
“What reasonable adjustments should my child's school be making for their autism?”