Ring-fenced budget failing to protect vulnerable children

The extent of the swingeing cuts to vital education services for deaf children have been uncovered by NDCS as it launches its Save Services for Deaf Children Campaign. Its campaign map shows cuts in 28 local authorities across England and highlights that a further 24 local authorities are at high risk of making cuts*. In some local authorities, cuts to frontline staff, such as specialist teachers, are as much as 50 per cent.

Despite being a legal requirement, 96 per cent of local authorities did not consult parents on the cuts.  NDCS faced resistance from local authorities to disclose cuts to services in their area and had to issue 45 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to obtain the data.

Susan Daniels OBE, Chief Executive of NDCS, says: “We are appalled at these widespread cuts to vital education services for deaf children across the country. It is unacceptable that it has fallen on charities and parents to find out about cuts to services for these vulnerable children and we are calling on the Secretary of State to launch an investigation and explain why frontline services are being cut from budget he said would be protected.

“The support being taken away is not an optional extra, it is absolutely crucial for deaf children’s learning and development, particularly as they are already underachieving compared to other children. We are so alarmed about the long-term impact of these cuts that we will support families in legally challenging reductions to services their child receives,” said Ms Daniels.

Results of a survey conducted by NDCS shows that 95 per cent of parents of deaf children are concerned their child’s education will suffer as a result of the cuts**. NDCS is encouraging people to post information on cuts in their area on the NDCS Save Services for Deaf Children Campaign map and join the campaign to protect services for deaf children: www.ndcs.org.uk/save

Deafness is not a learning disability yet 65 per cent of deaf children in England are failing to get five GCSE grades A*-C, including English and Maths. Deaf children need vital support to achieve at school, including help from a specialist teacher of the deaf, equipment to hear at school and good acoustics in the classroom. This support is essential in enabling deaf children’s speech, language and communications skills to develop at the same rate as other children, so they can get a fair chance to achieve at school.

Parents who are concerned about cuts to support for their deaf child can contact the NDCS freephone helpline on 0808 800 8880 (voice and text) or email helpline@ndcs.org.uk

ENDS

For a list and map of the local authorities making cuts and a copy of the letter to the Secretary of State or to interview Susan Daniels and parents of deaf children contact:

Faith Dawes
Tel: 020 7014 1149            Email: faith.dawes@ndcs.org.uk

Anna Galandzij
Tel: 020 7014 1178            Email: anna.galandzij@ndcs.org.uk

Notes to editors

About NDCS and childhood deafness
NDCS is the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people. For more information on childhood deafness parents can contact the NDCS Freephone Helpline on 0808 800 8880 (voice and text) or email helpline@ndcs.org.uk, or visit www.ndcs.org.uk 
There are more than 45,000 deaf children in the UK. However, Government figures show that the number of deaf children is increasing. Four babies are born deaf every day and over 90 per cent of deaf children are born to hearing parents with no experience of deafness. 85 per cent of deaf children are educated in mainstream school.

NDCS Save Services for Deaf Children Campaign                 
*NDCS contacted all 152 local authorities in England and after issuing 45 FOI requests NDCS now has information from 141 local authorities. Of those, 28 confirmed cuts have taken place. 11 authorities still have not responded to the FOI request despite being required by law to reply within 20 working days.

**NDCS surveyed 740 parents of deaf children via an online survey, April 2011
For more information on the campaign and cuts taking place across the UK visit: www.ndcs.org.uk/save