What makes a ‘reasonable adjustment’?

What is a ‘reasonable adjustment’?

A reasonable adjustment in school is an accommodation made for a child or young person with special educational needs (SEN) to ensure they have equal access to educational opportunities.

Reasonable adjustments aim to reduce or remove a disadvantage caused by a student’s SEN or disability.

Schools have a legal obligation under the Equality Act 2010 to support pupils with SEN to ensure they are not disadvantaged and have access to an inclusive learning environment.

What makes an adjustment “reasonable” depends on factors like its effectiveness in addressing the need, the practicality of the adjustment, the resources and finances available to the school, the safety of others and the potential impact on other students.

As a rule, if it is low cost and low disruption, an adjustment is usually considered reasonable.

What can a reasonable adjustment look like?

Reasonable adjustments are tailored to each individual’s needs, but common ones include:

•  Accessible learning materials like larger print books, coloured paper and overlays, reading pens, communication devices and laptops
• Extra time and different spaces for assessments
• Scribes for exams or in the classroom
• Physical accessibility aids like ramps
• Time-out passes or movement breaks
• Adjusted start and finish times for school or lessons
• Sensory supports like fidget toys or ear defenders, or lower lighting in classrooms
• Uniform adjustments
• Sensory rooms or quiet areas for regulation
• Behaviour and emotional support
• Reduced timetables.

If you are struggling to get the support your child or young person needs at school and your requests for reasonable adjustments are not being met by the school, contact our SEN team today for expert advice and support.