Accessibility Statement

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is committed to making the Stockton Virtual School website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This accessibility statement applies to virtualschool.stockton.gov.uk

We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website.

For example, that means you should be able to:

  • change colours, contrast levels and fonts
  • zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
  • navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
  • navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
  • listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

We have also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

Visit the AbilityNet website which has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and the exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

PDFs

PDFs included on this website are not accessible because:

  • they are not machine readable which fails WCAG 2.0 A 1.1.1
  • they do not include a title which fails WCAG 2.0 A 2.4.2
  • they do not include headings or tags which fails WCAG 2.0 A 1.3.1
  • on some pages the text colour does not contrast sufficiently with the background colour which fails WCAG 2.0 A 1.4.3

Website pages

One page requires scrolling in two dimensions on small screens this fails WCAG 2.1 AA 1.4.10.

Some images used on this website do not include alt text or the alt text included is the same as the adjacent link text which fails WCAG 2.0 A 1.1.1.

On the homepage there is a carousel of different quotations that moves automatically with no mechanism to pause or hide it, this fails WCAG 2.0 A 2.2.2.

The search box does not contrast sufficiently with the website background colour, which fails WCAG 2.1 AA 1.4.11.

A small number of our website pages do not include a heading 1 this fails WCAG 2.0 A 1.3.1.

Our designated teachers page includes a table without a heading, this fails WCAG 2.0 A 1.3.1.

Our your views page including two lists are not written out semantically which fails WCAG 2.0 A 1.3.1.

Our social care page includes an empty link which fails WCAG 2.0 A 4.1.2.

Our error page does not specify the language it is written in which fails WCAG 2.0 A 3.1.1.

On some pages of the website lists of links are included which are not far enough apart from each other, this fails WCAG 2.2 AA 2.5.8.

Content is not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

Google map

Our contact us page includes an embedded Google map, the map marker icon within this does not include a label for screen readers, this fails WCAG AA 2.1 4.1.2.

On this page, we have included the address as written content to help users with this issue.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are currently working across our services to ensure all content produced for the website is in an accessible format. We plan to regularly review our accessibility through user testing for new content and online services as well and manual testing using NVDA and diagnostic software such as Wave, Axe and Silktide to ensure compliance of WCAG 2.2 AA standards and AAA where possible.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 11 September 2024.

This website is tested regularly using diagnostic software called Silktide. Manual testing is also carried out on a regular basis for new content. Testing is carried out by our Digital and Website Development Team.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact [email protected]

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format such as accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille email [email protected]

We'll consider your request and get back to you as soon as possible.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you are not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).