The number of disabled education staff (including teachers, teaching assistants, and support staff) currently working in education is uncertain due to extensive under-reporting, and improving disability data collection in schools is a current Department for Education priority.

However, according to the most recent statistics in England, around 3% of teachers are reported as disabled. While this sounds small, it still equates to approximately 14,000 ‘known’ disabled teachers working in the sector. 

In addition, the latest initial teacher trainng statistics clearly show that the number of ‘declared’ disabled trainees is steadily increasing – rising from 13% in 2019/2020 to 20% in 2025/2026. This suggests that schools increasingly need to support more disabled teachers, as they enter the workforce, so it’s important to have the right tools and processes in place.

NAHT believes that reasonable adjustment disability passports are a key mechanism for putting disabled staff’s rights into practice and helping schools meet their duties, while creating more inclusive and supportive workplaces. Click below to view and download our guidance for school leaders

NAHT has also developed a reasonable adjustments disability passport model policy and a passport template that can be adapted to local contexts that accompany the guidance below.