Primary school in Northern Ireland
Choose a primary school that's right for your deaf child.
This information is for families of deaf children and young people in Northern Ireland. Read our information for England, 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 type of hearing loss and level of deafness
- whether they have any additional needs
- where you live
- your family’s religious background
- whether you speak Irish
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 things 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.
Types of primary school
There are lots of different types of schools in Northern Ireland. NI Direct has more information about the different types of school for children aged 4 to 16.
Mainstream schools
Mainstream schools cater for children of all abilities.
All children have a right to attend a mainstream school, including children with any type of hearing loss or level of deafness. Schools in Northern Ireland must make reasonable adjustments to support disabled children. Find out more about deaf children’s rights in education.
A mainstream school may not always be the best fit for a child. A parent may decide that a school isn't right for their child. In some cases, a mainstream school may feel that they can’t meet a child’s needs. The school would have to prove that it had considered all the reasonable adjustments which might have made it possible to include a child.
Specialist units in mainstream schools
Some mainstream schools have specialist units for deaf children, known as a specialist provision. With specialist provision, deaf children may take part in mainstream classes, or they may be taught in the unit for some or all of their lessons. They may have support in class from a teaching assistant (TA).
Cregagh Primary School in Belfast is currently the only primary school with a specialist deaf unit in Northern Ireland.
Special schools
Special schools teach children with special educational needs (SEN). These are children who may not be able to access the mainstream curriculum because of their learning needs. Most special schools support children with a range of additional needs, which could include deafness. These schools can be either controlled or voluntary.
Most deaf children go to a mainstream school. However, if your child has a statement of SEN, you can ask for them to go to a special school. Find out more about SEN.
Some special schools support children with a specific special need, such as deafness. Jordanstown school supports deaf and visually impaired pupils from age 4 to 19. Jordanstown school is non-denominational and can also support deaf children with additional needs, such as autism.
Residential schools
Residential schools are schools where children can stay overnight, and, in some schools, over the weekend. These may be private schools, called independent boarding schools.
Some special schools are also residential schools. However, there are currently no residential schools specifically for deaf children in Northern Ireland. We have more information about the special schools for deaf children and young people across the UK.
Homeschooling
Some families may choose to homeschool their children. This is called elective home education (EHE). You can find more information about EHE on nidirect.gov.uk.
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 (ETINI)
- Ask other parents about schools in your area
- Ask your child’s ToD, if they have one, 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.
Take a checklist with you
Take a checklist with you when visiting a school to collect key information. Download and print our checklist for choosing a deaf-friendly school:
The checklist includes questions to ask while visiting different schools. You won’t need to ask all the questions on the checklist – just pick out the questions which are important to you. Try to ask the same set of questions at each education setting, to help you compare different schools.
Bring your child
Where possible, try to bring your child with you when visiting schools. Ask them what they think about the building, teachers, and the general feeling the school gives them.
Meet with the learning support coordinator (LSC)
You may find it helpful to make an appointment to see the school’s LSC to discuss your child’s needs and how the school will be able to meet them.
LSCs were previously known as special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCo).
Visit at different times of the day
Try to visit schools more than once and at different times of the day. Visiting at different times of the day will help to give you a well-rounded view of the whole school day.
- What is it like at break time or when students are moving between classrooms?
- What are the acoustics like?
- What adjustments might need to be made?
I’d ask about how many days a week they 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," explains Pamela.
Other things to consider
- Location of the school – how far will your child have to travel? Can the EA provide taxis to help them get there?
- 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?
- How will the school meet your child’s social and emotional needs?
- If your family speaks Irish, you may want to consider an Irish-medium school (Department of Education).
- If you’re considering a school with a specialist resource provision, check the qualifications of staff.
- How will this choice impact your family? Do you 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?
Applying for a place
If your child does not have a statement of SEN or is undergoing statutory assessment for a statement of SEN, you need to apply for a school place. Each school will have its own admissions criteria and arrangements for applying, so check with them before you apply.
Find out how to apply for a place at primary school (EA).
If your child has a statement of SEN, you don’t need to apply for a school place. Your child’s placement will be arranged through the EA’s SEN Department. However, if you want your child to go to a specific school, you have the right to ask for this. The EA must agree to send your child to the school you choose, as long as:
- the school you choose is suitable for your child’s age, ability, skills and SEN
- the school feels that they can meet your child’s needs.
In the end I chose a new local school. The teacher I spoke to 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.”
Appealing a school placement
If you’re not happy with the school placement your child has been given, you have the right to appeal. The way that you appeal will depend on whether your child has a statement of SEN or not.
Find out more about appealing school placements.
Full references for this webpage are available by emailing
informationteam@ndcs.org.uk