More than a third of councils in England are cutting educational support totalling £4m for deaf children, according to figures obtained by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS).
The figures, gained through freedom of information requests, show that councils in these areas are cutting 10% on average from deaf children’s services, which the charity warns are already near breaking point.
In the last four years, one in 10 specialist teachers of the deaf have been cut, the charity claims. Meanwhile, deaf children are falling behind at every stage of school, and at GCSE two-thirds of deaf children fail to achieve a grade 5 in both English and maths – a key government target.
The NDCS said it had received responses from 122 councils, of which 45 said they were making cuts between 2017-18 and 2018-19.
According to the charity’s figures, Blackpool reported the biggest cut of 36%, (£87,000) out of the budget for deaf children, while Blackburn and Darwen reported a 31% cut (£265,000) and in Cornwall deaf children’s services are losing £215,000, or 20% of their budget.
The cuts come as councils across England struggle to meet growing demand for support for children with special needs.
Susan Daniels, the NDCS chief executive, said: “Deaf children can achieve anything other children can, but to do this it is crucial they get the right support. Despite councils having a legal duty to support deaf children, we are seeing the vital support system that they rely on for their education torn apart.”
The Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick chair of the all-party parliamentary group on deafness, said the figures should “shame us all. The incredible potential of deaf children is being extinguished because the system that supports them is being completely undermined.”
Richard Watts, the chair of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, said: “We have made it clear for some time now that there must be additional and ongoing funding from the government to enable us to support high-needs children and their families. Otherwise councils may not be able to meet their statutory duties and these children could miss out on a mainstream education.”
Article extracted from: The Guardian – published on Monday 14th May 2018
This is immorally wrong! First they stop many deaf children attending specialist schools for the deaf and insist that most deaf children be mainstreamed. It doesn’t just stop there. The struggle to keep up, make good friends and have a good social network during school hours and afterwards is utterly draining and increases mental health issues incredibly.
I have been in both deaf and mainstream education and the difference is vast! I cried every day by break time in the struggle to keep up and cope with teachers especially after leaving a school for the deaf. It was horrendous. I struggled with no extra support at university as well. It was only through sheer hard work I achieved a 2:2 even though I got a 2:1 in my dissertation. I spent one year working mainly in the library as couldn’t hear or understand lectures due to developing a allergy to my ear moulds. The experience of being with hearing peers in education is very hard for a deaf person so to make cuts is cruel for young deaf children and people in education. That is not giving equal opportunities to succeed.
They need more support.
Money goes to all the wrong people.
Our children needs are so important.