Gateshead Council

Free • Impartial • Confidential

Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement applies to the Gateshead SENDIASS website provided by Axis Recruitment.

Our Commitment

We are committed to making our website accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or technology. We aim to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA standards.

What We've Done

To improve accessibility, we have implemented the following:

  • Semantic HTML: We use proper HTML5 semantic elements (header, nav, main, section, footer) to provide clear page structure.
  • Heading Hierarchy: We maintain a logical heading structure (H1, H2, H3) to help screen readers navigate content.
  • Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements are accessible via keyboard, with visible focus indicators.
  • Colour Contrast: We ensure text meets WCAG 2.2 Level AA contrast requirements (at least 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).
  • Alternative Text: Images include appropriate alt text descriptions.
  • Form Labels: All form fields have associated labels and clear error messages.
  • ARIA Landmarks: We use ARIA landmarks and roles where appropriate to enhance screen reader navigation.
  • Plain Language: We use clear, simple language and avoid unnecessary jargon.

Known Limitations

We are aware of the following limitations and are working to address them:

  • Some third-party content (such as embedded resources) may not fully meet accessibility standards.
  • Older PDF documents may not be fully accessible to screen readers.

Feedback and Contact

We welcome feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 2 working days.

Enforcement Procedure

If you are not satisfied with our response to your accessibility concern, you can contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) or the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Last Updated

This accessibility statement was last updated on October 14, 2026.