Design standards

We aim to design to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 3.0. We also work to the BSI PAS 78:2006 guidelines where possible.

Structure of the site

We have one set of pages for the whole site, which we aim to make accessible to all. We do not separate accessible and less accessible pages into separate sections.

Why is there no button to make text larger?

Browser technology has moved on significantly, enabling easy page zoom with shortcuts that should be listed in the 'View' menu of the browser. Page zoom has the benefit that each element of the page will be scaled proportionately. It is also more common for people with visual impairments to have their own software built-in, which automatically increases the text size.

Content

We aim to use clear, plain English in a concise and meaningful way.

Use of cookies

Every user is informed about how the site uses cookies on their first visit. For more information see our cookies policy.

Use of multimedia

We aim to label all images, and use images just where appropriate (not for purely decorative text and headings).

Text will be scaleable, as will all pages themselves. We set a maximum size for most pages, to ensure lines are wrapped according to commonly accepted typographical rules.

Browser support

There will always be small differences in the display between browsers, but we aim to broadly support the later versions of Edge, Chrome, Safari and Firefox.

Proof of compliance

Rather than using automated tools and badges, which can be hit-or-miss, we aim to be responsive to your needs. Please notify us of any specific problems you encounter, or any suggestions you have for improvement.