Nine out of 10 parents fear for their deaf child’s support at school

Nine out of ten parents of deaf children are worried about the future of their child’s support at school, a new survey has revealed

The poll of 1,011 parents, released today by the National Deaf Children’s Society, also shows that 82% feel do not feel there is enough funding for deaf children’s education in their area.

The results also reveal concerns about the effects of the Government’s major 2014 reforms of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system.

Just 5% of parents felt the situation had improved for them and their deaf child since the reforms, with almost half saying things had got worse.

The Education Select Committee will meet again today to continue its inquiry into the reforms, hearing evidence from representatives across the disability sector.

The meeting comes as the National Deaf Children’s Society says a funding crisis is decimating the SEND system and risks spiralling out of control.

The charity says that while there is no silver bullet, there are simple, cost-effective steps that the Government must take to safeguard deaf children’s education.

Susan Daniels OBE, Chief Executive of the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “These results tell a heartbreaking story of the state of deaf children’s education in this country. Despite the Government’s repeated claims of record funding, this evidence shows that support is simply not getting to the deaf children who so desperately need it.

“We now find ourselves in a situation where an overwhelming majority of parents fear for the future of their deaf child’s education and this is completely unacceptable.

“There is no silver bullet to solve this crisis. However, by setting up a fund to train new specialist teachers, plugging the £4m funding gap in deaf children’s services, along with Ofsted holding councils to account more forcefully, the Government can make real, affordable improvements to deaf children’s education.

“If it doesn’t, it will be failing each and every one of them.”