Resource Base for Deaf Children

Welcome

We feel privileged as a school to host the Resource Base for Deaf Pupils specialist provision on behalf of Suffolk County Council. All of the children who hold a place in the Resource Base have a place in a mainstream class appropriate to their age, and as such are valued members of our Elm Tree Family and are fully included in all aspects of school life. The staff in the Resource Base have a wealth of expertise in supporting deaf pupils; there is a Teacher of the Deaf and specialist teaching assistants who set high expectations and have a commitment to improving the outcomes for the deaf learners. The staff within the base have an understanding of language development, a British Sign Language qualification and an increased awareness of a range of other needs, which deaf pupils may also present with.

The Resource Base – an overview

The Resource Base for Deaf Pupils provides specialist support for pupils who have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) with deafness as their primary area of need. The children who are part of the base have a bespoke learning experience of mainstream and specialist teaching according to their needs.

A total communication approach is used; BSL (British Sign Language), SSE (Sign Supported English) and oral communication are used as appropriate.

Pupils from the base mix with both hearing and deaf pupils to gain confidence in both deaf and hearing worlds so that when they leave the Resource Base, they are confident in taking their place in society.

Children are often referred here from their nursery or Reception provision but can arrive in any year group as long as there is space within the provision. This provision ends when pupils leave Year 6. At this point, children are supported to transition to the most appropriate secondary setting for them. The Teacher of the Deaf (ToD) supports parents with this decision and also with the transition process.

Our Aims:

To develop the resilience and self-esteem of deaf children and help them to develop their own individual identities.
To provide specialist teaching from a Teacher of the Deaf and our excellent support staff.
To create an environment that encourages the development of physical, intellectual, language, emotional, social and communication skills.
To support class teachers and to work with children in order to deliver and provide full access to the National Curriculum.
To provide communication support as needed.
To identify the individual needs of pupils and to provide suitable interventions and programs to support their learning.
To provide adjustments to the school day that allow D/deaf children to have an equal chance at success.
To develop independence and management of all audiological equipment including hearing aids and implant devices.
To promote a love for learning and encourage children to achieve their full potential.
To prepare children for future learning and transition to high school.
To develop relationships with external professionals focussing on a child centred approach.

Day to day in the Resource Base

All children access their mainstream classes for part or all of the school day depending on their ability to access the curriculum. When in their mainstream class, the pupil could work independently, developing their skills of self-reliance and being self-sustaining, or they could be supported by a specialist teaching assistant, who liaises regularly with the class teacher and the Teacher of the Deaf. The decisions on levels of support vary from pupil to pupil and are always in place to ensure that children are able to reach their potential.

We believe in integrating our deaf pupils into their classes as fully as possible whilst withdrawing them into the Resource Base, when appropriate, for more structured intervention. Some children require additional English and/or maths support so this is planned and delivered within the Resource Base rather than in the mainstream classroom.

Staff within the Resource Base focus on positive growth mind-set, helping the children build resilience, independence and confidence.

Audiology

Resource Base staff conduct regular checks on hearing aids, BAHAs, cochlear implants and radio aids. They can troubleshoot many minor issues and ensure technology is working optimally. There is close liaison with the local audiology departments and hearing implant centres so repairs or replacements can be arranged quickly for when equipment issues are more complicated to resolve. We also work closely with the Suffolk County Council’s Sensory and Physical Service technical officer to ensure access to radio aids and associated equipment.

Speech Therapy

A speech and language therapist who has specialised training to work with deaf children works regularly with pupils to develop communication skills. Speech and language sessions are arranged for individual students or small groups according to need. Weekly feedback is given to Resource Base staff including areas for targeted work.

If you have any questions about the Resource Base for deaf pupils at Elm Tree Primary School, please feel free to contact Sarah Hack, Teacher of the Deaf. sarah.hack@suffolk.gov.uk