Objective 1: We deliver outstanding support in the early years

In 2022, only 34% of deaf children in England completed their first year of school having achieved expected levels of development, compared with 65% of all children.

Such a big gap is unacceptable and can impact learning and development throughout deaf children’s lives. We want to close this gap as early and as quickly as we can, making sure families get the best support as soon as their child’s deafness is identified.

We’ll work with professionals and policy-makers so deaf children have everything they need at the start of their journey – and are thriving by the time they reach school.

Our commitment

• Parents are able to find us quickly and get the support they need. 
• Parents can support their child’s learning and development and in particular their language and communication skills. 
• Professionals learn from our expertise on how to support deaf children in the early years. 
• Services and policy-makers are held to account so every deaf child gets the support they need.

What will success mean?

• More parents joining us as members in the first year after their child is identified as deaf through newborn hearing screening.
• More parents feel they have the support they need for their child in the early years. 
• An increase in the number of specialist professionals such as audiologists and Teachers of the Deaf.