Natioanl Deaf Childrens' Society Hits Out at NAC's Proposal
The National Deaf Children's Society (NDSC) have added their voice to Towerlands' SaveOurSchool canpaign with their response to the proposal, submitted on the final day of consultation ; text from their submission is below:
Re: Proposed Closure of Towerlands Primary School and Hearing Impaired Unit
The National Deaf Children’s Society, as the national charity representing the interests of deaf children and their families in Scotland, has been approached by a number of parents of deaf children in Ayrshire regarding the proposed closure of the hearing impaired unit at Towerlands Primary School, Irvine.
I understand that under proposals currently being considered by North Ayrshire Council, there is a recommendation that Towerlands Primary School, with its associated specialist Hearing Impaired Unit (HIU), should be amalgamated with Fencedyke and Broomlands Primary schools.
I am sure you will appreciate that parents of deaf children who attend the specialist unit are extremely concerned and anxious at this proposal and the impact that this may have on the quality of the education experience for their child.
Parents tell us that the HIU at Towerlands Primary School is an integrated part of the school, resulting in an extremely deaf friendly ethos throughout, with hearing members of staff and pupils alike employing a positive and inclusive attitude to deafness.
As a result, deaf pupils feel included, and their peers and teachers at all stages of the school are able to communicate effectively with them.
It is of some considerable concern to NDCS that these children will be entering a new environment where existing pupils and staff will not have the same levels of deaf awareness and communication skills, and we share the concern of parents that this could lead to deaf pupils becoming isolated and, indeed, disadvantaged in accessing the wider curriculum.
Should the merger go ahead, NDCS Scotland, on behalf of parents of deaf pupils currently attending Towerlands Primary School, would therefore ask that the following issues are given urgent priority before any deaf child moves to the new school:
--- That the accommodation identified for the HIU at either Fencedyke or Broomlands Primary is equal to that currently used at Towerlands Primary School. That is, three dedicated rooms: one for primary 1-3 children, one for the upper school, and one sound-proofed room for visiting audiologists and speech and language therapists working with deaf pupils.
--- That the entire school environment in the receiving institution (i.e. either Fencedyke or Broomlands) is appropriately modified to meet the needs of deaf pupils before the merger goes ahead. That is, adaptations such as carpets in all classrooms, the installation of blackout blinds, loops systems and soundfield systems, must be completed before deaf pupils attend the school, and that deaf awareness training also be delivered to all members of staff and ideally classes.
--- That parents of deaf pupils are engaged at every stage on the proposals for the merger, the results of this consultation, and the next steps.
I am sure that you will be aware of the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act as amended in 2005 to create Disability Equality Scheme Action Plans for any proposed change to education services, and I would therefore also request a copy of this in relation to the proposed merger for our records.
I know that you will share my desire for quality education provision for all deaf pupils in North Ayrshire. NDCS believes that, unless appropriate action is taken to ensure that any new home for the HIU in North Ayrshire can provide support at the same level as current provision from the moment that pupils are transferred as a minimum requirement of the merger, then the proposed closure of Towerlands Primary School will have a significant detrimental impact on deaf pupils.
As you may be aware, NDCS produces a wide range of training materials for schools in creating deaf friendly environments with appropriate acoustics suitable for the education of deaf pupils, and we have recently published a document in partnership with HMIE, Count Us In, which aims to promote excellence in deaf mainstream education. If your authority would like further details on these training materials and guidance, or if you would like to meet to discuss the issues raised in this letter, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
The National Deaf Children’s Society, as the national charity representing the interests of deaf children and their families in Scotland, has been approached by a number of parents of deaf children in Ayrshire regarding the proposed closure of the hearing impaired unit at Towerlands Primary School, Irvine.
I understand that under proposals currently being considered by North Ayrshire Council, there is a recommendation that Towerlands Primary School, with its associated specialist Hearing Impaired Unit (HIU), should be amalgamated with Fencedyke and Broomlands Primary schools.
I am sure you will appreciate that parents of deaf children who attend the specialist unit are extremely concerned and anxious at this proposal and the impact that this may have on the quality of the education experience for their child.
Parents tell us that the HIU at Towerlands Primary School is an integrated part of the school, resulting in an extremely deaf friendly ethos throughout, with hearing members of staff and pupils alike employing a positive and inclusive attitude to deafness.
As a result, deaf pupils feel included, and their peers and teachers at all stages of the school are able to communicate effectively with them.
It is of some considerable concern to NDCS that these children will be entering a new environment where existing pupils and staff will not have the same levels of deaf awareness and communication skills, and we share the concern of parents that this could lead to deaf pupils becoming isolated and, indeed, disadvantaged in accessing the wider curriculum.
Should the merger go ahead, NDCS Scotland, on behalf of parents of deaf pupils currently attending Towerlands Primary School, would therefore ask that the following issues are given urgent priority before any deaf child moves to the new school:
--- That the accommodation identified for the HIU at either Fencedyke or Broomlands Primary is equal to that currently used at Towerlands Primary School. That is, three dedicated rooms: one for primary 1-3 children, one for the upper school, and one sound-proofed room for visiting audiologists and speech and language therapists working with deaf pupils.
--- That the entire school environment in the receiving institution (i.e. either Fencedyke or Broomlands) is appropriately modified to meet the needs of deaf pupils before the merger goes ahead. That is, adaptations such as carpets in all classrooms, the installation of blackout blinds, loops systems and soundfield systems, must be completed before deaf pupils attend the school, and that deaf awareness training also be delivered to all members of staff and ideally classes.
--- That parents of deaf pupils are engaged at every stage on the proposals for the merger, the results of this consultation, and the next steps.
I am sure that you will be aware of the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act as amended in 2005 to create Disability Equality Scheme Action Plans for any proposed change to education services, and I would therefore also request a copy of this in relation to the proposed merger for our records.
I know that you will share my desire for quality education provision for all deaf pupils in North Ayrshire. NDCS believes that, unless appropriate action is taken to ensure that any new home for the HIU in North Ayrshire can provide support at the same level as current provision from the moment that pupils are transferred as a minimum requirement of the merger, then the proposed closure of Towerlands Primary School will have a significant detrimental impact on deaf pupils.
As you may be aware, NDCS produces a wide range of training materials for schools in creating deaf friendly environments with appropriate acoustics suitable for the education of deaf pupils, and we have recently published a document in partnership with HMIE, Count Us In, which aims to promote excellence in deaf mainstream education. If your authority would like further details on these training materials and guidance, or if you would like to meet to discuss the issues raised in this letter, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
posted by Chris Archer at
8:16 AM
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