Becoming deaf friendly takes time, but it will result in an inclusive nursery that enables everyone to reach their potential, says Sarah Brown
Being 'deaf friendly' means having a positive attitude towards deafness and a desire to encourage deaf children to reach their full potential.
All nursery staff should take time to understand the needs of deaf children in their care and to find out where to access further information and advice. You also need to ensure the design and layout of the nursery is suitable and that all activities are fully accessible.
To be truly deaf friendly, your nursery needs to review all its policies, including those on child protection, equal opportunities and health and safety, to make sure they take into account the needs of deaf children. Staff training and professional development programmes should include deaf awareness and working with deaf children. The nursery should also take care to keep parents informed about their child's development and to encourage parents to share knowledge about their children.
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