Deaf chilldren should not be an afterthought, NDCS warns Government

NDCS has responded to an influential review of the primary curriculum, led by Sir Jim Rose, calling for a commitment that the needs of deaf children will be considered before the introduction of any new curriculum initiatives. 

Official statistics show that one in five children have special educational needs (SEN). Despite this, the interim report from the independent review contains no mention of the needs of children with SEN - even though it is likely to lead to a major overhaul of the way the primary curriculum is delivered.

NDCS believes that careful attention needs to be given from the outset to how deaf children will access any new curriculum iniatives.

Deaf children have already been left behind in changes to the way that literacy is taught. Literacy is now often taught through the use of phonics, which is based on listening to the sounds of words. Even though this is clearly going to be inaccessible for many deaf children, there has been no guidance published for teachers on how to teach literacy to deaf children.

Government figures suggest that in 2007 over a quarter of all deaf children left primary school without a basic understanding of literacy, compared with just 6% of all children.

More information

• NDCS response to the independent review of the primary curriculum (78 kb)
• Must do better! campaign report on barriers to achievement by deaf children (1842 kb)