Accessibility statement

How accessible this website is

We have built this site to conform to WCAG 2.2 level AA. We believe it currently does, with the caveats set out under known limitations below.

What we have done

• Semantic HTML throughout, with one h1 per page and headings in a logical order, so screen reader users can navigate by structure
• A skip link to the main content as the first focusable item on every page
• Everything operable by keyboard alone, with a clear, high-contrast focus indicator that never relies on colour alone
• Body text contrast of at least 7:1 — exceeding the AA requirement of 4.5:1 and meeting AAA. Interface colours meet at least 4.5:1, and decorative brand greens are never used for small text
• Text reflows without horizontal scrolling down to 320 pixels wide, and remains usable when zoomed to 200% or when text spacing is increased
• Wide content such as tables scrolls inside its own container, so the page itself never scrolls sideways
• Targets of at least 44 by 44 pixels for buttons and links, meeting WCAG 2.2 target size
• Form fields with permanently visible labels, hints properly associated using aria-describedby, and no reliance on placeholder text as a label
• Meaningful alternative text on informative images, and decorative images hidden from assistive technology
• Respect for the prefers-reduced-motion setting — there is very little motion here, and what there is turns off
• A dark colour scheme that follows your device setting, with contrast checked in both schemes
• No text presented as an image, so everything can be resized, restyled or read aloud
• No time limits, no auto-playing media, no carousels, and no content that moves without you asking it to
• No cookie banner or pop-up overlays interrupting the page
• Full functionality with JavaScript disabled — scripts only add convenience
• Sensible page titles, a visible current-page indicator in the navigation, and descriptive link text rather than “click here”

Plain language

Accessibility is not only technical. The SEND system is full of acronyms, and a page nobody can understand is not accessible even if it passes every automated check. We expand acronyms on first use, keep sentences short, and maintain a jargon buster for the vocabulary you will meet elsewhere.

How we tested it

• Manual keyboard-only navigation of every page and the enquiry form
• Contrast ratios calculated for every text and background pair in both colour schemes
• Zoom to 200% and 400%, and viewport widths down to 320 pixels
• Testing with JavaScript disabled
• HTML validation

Known limitations

• The booking page. Booking a call takes you to a third-party scheduling provider whose accessibility we do not control. If it does not work for you, please just ring or text 07957 985419, or send an enquiry through the form — you will never be disadvantaged for not using the booking tool.
• Documents. Any PDFs or documents we publish in future will be tested for accessibility before they go up, and we will provide an accessible alternative format on request. Inaccessible PDFs are the most common failure on school websites and we do not intend to add to the pile.

If something does not work for you

Please tell us. We want to hear about it, and we will not treat it as a complaint unless you want us to.

• Call or text 07957 985419
• Or use the enquiry form

Tell us the page, what you were trying to do, and what got in the way. We aim to reply within 5 working days.

We can provide any information on this site in another format — large print, plain text, a different colour scheme, or read to you over the phone. Just ask; there is no charge and no need to explain why.

Enforcement

The Equality Act 2010 requires us to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people are not put at a substantial disadvantage. If you contact us about an accessibility problem and are not happy with our response, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service, which is free and independent.

The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 apply to public sector organisations rather than to a private company like ours. We have chosen to hold ourselves to the same standard anyway, and we help schools and local authorities meet their own obligations under those regulations.