Primary school in England

This information is for deaf young people and families of deaf children in England. Read our information for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

With the right support, deaf children can succeed in any type of school. The school which works best for your child will depend on many different things, including:

• their level of deafness
• whether they have any additional needs
• whether you feel your child needs to be with other deaf children
• where you live. 

You’ll also need to think about how your choice of school will work for you and your family.

Use this page to learn about different types of school and what to consider when making your choice. 

My main piece of advice for others looking at schools is not to worry if a school is mainstream or deaf specialist. Find the school that’s right for your specific child.”

Pamela is mum to Jasmine and Daya (5) who both have additional needs. Jasmine is profoundly deaf.

Read Jasmine and Daya's story.

Types of primary education

There are different types of school that your deaf child could benefit from. It’s important to think about which school will be best able to meet your child’s needs.

Starting your search

• Start your search early
• Search on the internet – look at each school’s website, order or download the prospectus, and contact the school for more information
• Read individual school inspection reports from Ofsted
• Ask other parents about schools in your area
• Ask your child’s Teacher of the Deaf about schools in your area

Keep in mind when searching that even a school with a good report or one that’s been recommended may still not be the right school for your child.

I found that just because a school has previously had a deaf child, it didn’t make it the best. Lots of schools would even try to put me off choosing them and that, while disappointing, helped me to rule them out quickly," Pamela says.

Visiting schools

Most schools will have open days or evenings where parents can look around the school and ask questions. Visiting a school can give you a better picture of what the school is like and how it will suit your child. Keep an open mind and visit as many different types of schools as possible.

I’d ask about how many days a week [the special educational needs coordinator (SENCo)] worked, what the acoustics and lighting were like, if anyone signs, how set up they were for a child with balance issues, what the playground was like. I also asked about their approach to challenges, which was quite revealing. The answers were all very interesting, but I was mostly asking to get a feel for their attitude," Pamela says.

Other things to consider

• Location of the school – how far will your child have to travel? Is your child eligible for help with transport?
• What extra-curricular activities are on offer? Is the school able to make adjustments so that your child can participate fully?
• Are there any other deaf children currently studying at the school, or will your child be the only one?
• How will the school meet your child’s social and emotional needs?
• If you’re considering a school with a specialist resource provision, check the qualifications of staff in the resource provision.
• How will this choice impact your family? Do they have older, hearing siblings at one primary school? Will choosing a different school for your deaf child make the morning drop-off more difficult? Will they need to become more independent, learning to travel to and from school by themselves?

I realised that while everyone was focusing on Liam’s additional needs (mobility and vision), it was their hearing that was key. Once Liam was sat in a classroom he’d be fine, he had no learning difficulties – but if they couldn’t hear, how could they learn?”

Michelle is mum to Liam and Oscar (6) who are moderately and profoundly deaf and have additional needs.

Applying for a place

Once you and your child have decided which school is right for them, you’ll need to apply for a place through your local authority. 

Each local authority or school will have its own admissions criteria and arrangements for applying. This should explain how you can choose a school, when you need to submit your application, and what to do if your first choice isn’t available. If you want to apply for a school outside your local authority area, you’ll need to check the admissions policy for the local authority of that school.

If your child has an EHCP, this will set out which school is considered best able to meet the needs of your child. The local authority must make sure your child is able to go to this school.

In the end I chose a new local school. The SENCo there said ‘yes’ to everything I asked. When I said to her, ‘Do you want to go away and consider if you can accommodate them?’ she said, ‘No, I know I can.’ I wanted a teacher who was supportive and excited to teach my children," Pamela explains.

Appealing a school placement

If you’re not happy with the school placement your child has been given because you do not believe that the school can meet your child’s needs, you have the right to appeal. The way that you appeal will depend on whether your child has an EHCP or not. 

Find out more about appealing school placements.