Written question asked by John Bercow (Conservative) on Friday, 24 October 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 October 2008. It was answered by Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 October 2008 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Untitled Written question

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many schools in England and Wales have produced a disability equality scheme since the coming into force of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

Answer: We expect all schools and local authorities to meet their duties to promote disability equality and publish disability equality schemes and we have produced guidance to support them in doing so. It is part of the remit of the Equalities and Human Right Commission to monitor compliance with these duties. Under Ofsted's inspection arrangements, schools are expected to complete a self-evaluation form, confirming the extent to which they have met the general requirements of disability discrimination legislation. However, the Department does not monitor centrally schools and local authorities' compliance with disability discrimination legislation. The first Secretary of State Report on progress towards disability equality will be published on 1 December 2008. As part of preparations for this report a research project has been commissioned to look at how schools are engaging with the specific disability equality duty outlined within the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. A series of national events for schools and local authorities will be hosted by the DCSF in February 2009 to share the learning from the Secretary of State Report.

Secondary information