It is in response to figures suggesting that two-thirds of deaf children in England are already behind their peers in their first year of school.
- Find out how to create a deaf-friendly learning environment here
The aim of National Deaf Children’s Society’s five-year strategy, Every Moment Counts, is to close the attainment gap by making sure deaf children get the help they need in their early years – a ‘crucial time’ when deafness has the greatest impact on children’s language, development and social skills.
The strategy has 5 objectives, they are:
- Delivering outstanding support in the early years.
- Providing life-changing information and advice.
- Building communities that unite families.
- Being the leading global authority on childhood deafness
The NDCS argues that we are currently ‘failing deaf children’ due to ‘missed opportunities’ to spot deafness and provide the right support.
At the same time, the number of qualified teachers of the deaf across England has fallen to its lowest level on record, says the charity. There are concerns about a similar pattern in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
According to the NDCS, a ‘deaf child without good language and communication development in the early years, may struggle to listen and follow instructions in the classroom or miss conversations with their peers, leading to feelings of isolation and a sense of missing out.’
The charity is concerned that many parents don’t know what their deaf child needs or what support they are entitled to and how to access this. Previous research by NDCS revealed that over 4 in 10 parents across the UK are uncertain about finding their way around healthcare, education and support services to ensure their child receives the support they need.
CASE STUDY
Bertie Lowe is six months old and is profoundly deaf. His deafness was identified after a newborn hearing screening test at 13 days old.
His mum Harriet said, ‘Finding out Bertie is deaf has had a huge impact on us as a family. My husband and I knew to expect some level of hearing loss at 13 days, but having it said out loud, my heart shattered. You can't help but fly 15 years into the future and worry about whether your baby will drive, go to mainstream school, go to concerts and enjoy music.
‘The audiologist who told us about Bertie’s deafness has been nothing short of amazing. But other than that, it’s been devastating. I don't know how to access support if I need it and as I have two older children to think about as well, I don't know how I would even go about it. At routine GP and vaccination appointments, some staff aren’t even aware of Bertie's deafness so asking for support has felt difficult.
‘We have experienced numerous delays and cancelled appointments over the last six months, and I feel repeatedly dismissed by medical professionals.
‘Not knowing how best to communicate with our son is heart breaking. I worry daily that he is missing out on so much, not just through verbal communication but through missed opportunities through play.
‘We’re still in the early days of learning about Bertie’s deafness and how it will impact him. I’ve found connecting with other parents experiencing the same thing really valuable, but families like ours need so much more support from the very beginning.’