Schools to share £1m access fund

Almost £1m is to be spent on Derbyshire's schools to make them more accessible for disabled staff, visitors and pupils.

Fifteen schools in total, including primary and senior schools, will be awarded the cash by the county council.

Improvements will include adapting toilets and changing rooms and installing ramps and rise-and-fall workstations in some classrooms. Money will also be given for hearing, sight and physical impairment services.

David Connor, Derbyshire County Council's acting deputy director of children's service, said: "All schools in Derbyshire have prepared strategies looking at the accessibility of their buildings. These projects enable us to deliver on our commitment to systematically improve the accessibility of the schools across Derbyshire."

A further £200,000 is to be kept as a contingency to be spent at schools where urgent work needs to be carried out in the next year.