Deaf provision

Total communication approach

for Deaf and Hearing Impaired pupils

At Whitehall, we adopt a total communication approach, tailored to the individual needs of each pupil. This may include spoken English, Signed Supported English (SSE), BSL, visual aids, and digital tools like iPads. Every child has a hearing support plan which helps staff understand and respond to their preferred methods of communication.

Our experienced and highly trained staff team support D/deaf pupils from Nursery to Year 6. Pupils are fully included in the mainstream school, attending classes with their hearing peers. They use cochlear implants or post-aural hearing aids, supported by radio aids to access learning. All classrooms have soundfield systems which enhance speech clarity for all learners. Hearing aids, cochlear implants, and radio aids are checked daily, and children are encouraged to understand and manage their own equipment – promoting independence and confidence.

The mainstream class teachers and support staff receive ongoing deaf awareness training to ensure inclusive practice and the SRP staff team work closely with class team ensuring accessibility to the full curriculum. All pupils at Whitehall have weekly British Sign Language (BSL) sessions and our D/deaf pupils have weekly Deaf Identity sessions. We have close links within the D/deaf community and offer regularly enrichment opportunities for the pupils within the SRP.

All children in the SRP benefit from weekly Speech and Language Therapy delivered by a specialist therapist experienced in working with deaf children. These individual or small group sessions focus on language development and speech clarity, with goals closely aligned to classroom learning.
We believe in building strong, supportive relationships with families. D/deaf children who use BSL at home or wish to learn sign language alongside spoken English receive regular BSL lessons. We also host regular gatherings, offering an informal space for families to connect with staff, including the Head Teacher and SENDCO, and with each other. These sessions provide opportunities to share information, ask questions, and discuss how best to support their children at home and at school.