6.34 Some children and young people require special educational provision because they have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of the educational facilities generally provided. These difficulties can be age related and may fluctuate over time. Many children and young people with vision impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI) or a multi-sensory impairment (MSI) will require specialist support and/or equipment to access their learning, or habilitation support. Children and young people with an MSI have a combination of vision and hearing difficulties. Information on how to provide services for deafblind children and young people is available through the Social Care for Deafblind Children and Adults guidance published by the Department of Health (see the References section under Chapter 6 for a link).
Hearing Impairment (HI)
The team for children with a Hearing Impairment (HI) is part of the Advisory Teaching Service. Support is available for children and young people attending mainstream settings who are at the required stage of the graduated pathway for SEND (see criterion for requests for involvement).
6.34 Some children and young people require special educational provision because they have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of the educational facilities generally provided. These difficulties can be age related and may fluctuate over time. Many children and young people with vision impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI) or a multi-sensory impairment (MSI) will require specialist support and/or equipment to access their learning, or habilitation support. Children and young people with an MSI have a combination of vision and hearing difficulties. Information on how to provide services for deafblind children and young people is available through the Social Care for Deafblind Children and Adults guidance published by the Department of Health (see the References section under Chapter 6 for a link).
What we do:
- Provide support for children and young people from the confirmation of a permanent hearing impairment loss until they leave school or further education college (0-25 yrs), supporting them to develop a positive understanding of their hearing impairment loss and their deaf identity.
- We work closely with families of pre-school children, helping them to understand the diagnosis, and then offering advice and support to develop communication strategies and language skills
- We offer a monthly specialist support group session 'Early Years Sensory Group' for babies and children aged 0-4 with a diagnosed sensory impairment (HI/VI/MSI) and their families. The group is led by a Teacher of the Deaf (ToD) and offers the opportunity for families to meet to discuss issues relating to sensory impairment, listen to invited speakers and join their children for a music/signed story session. The group also provides opportunity to support the development of listening, communication and social skills through planned activities for the children.
- We support children and young people with a diagnosed hearing impairment loss at all stages of the Gloucestershire Graduated Pathway for SEND. Working closely with CYP, their families and other professionals, we help schools and settings to build their capacity to meet an individual's needs and to ensure positive outcomes for them, aimed at helping them reach their full potential.
- By actively listening and responding to an individual's voice we work as part of the 'team around the child', contributing to overcoming the barriers that prevent a student with a hearing impairment loss from taking part in learning and assessment activities with their peers - as well as the wider opportunities in their educational setting school.
- Support, advise and empower children and young people (CYP), to understand their hearing impairment loss and audiological equipment
- Provide developmental and educational advice in relation to the CYP's hearing impairment loss
- Ensure that the views, wishes, perspectives and experiences of the CYP's are fully considered in their provision
- Provide, monitor and evaluate use of specialist audiological equipment e.g. radio aids
- We offer and provide a range of training from individual training around a CYP's needs to whole school and area based specialist courses to support continuing professional development in relation hearing impairment loss
- Settings can call the team during the week for no-names advice.
The team consists of:
- Qualified Specialist Advisory Teachers of the Deaf
- Qualified Specialist Advisory Teacher of Multi-Sensory Impairment (Deafblind)
- Deaf Communications Tutor
- Specialist Speech and Language Therapists.
We have high aspirations for the achievements of children and young people (CYP) with a hearing impairment and feel that a hearing loss should not prevent them from thriving, reaching their full potential, and having fun whilst they learn.
Who to contact
Contact Name
Karen Young and Suzette Kearns
Contact Position
Advisory Teacher of the Hearing Impaired and Lead Advisory Teacher for the Countywide Team
Telephone
01452 324376 - Cheltenham ATS01452 426014 - Forest ATS01452 426955 - Gloucester ATS01452 583728 - Stroud ATS