Primary school in Wales

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

All deaf children are different, but we know that with the right support, every deaf child can thrive at primary school.

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
• whether you want them to learn Welsh 

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

Most schools in Wales fit into one of the following categories. These schools can be private (also known as independent) or state-funded.

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 (Estyn).
• Ask other parents about schools in your area.
• Ask your child’s Teacher of the Deaf (ToD) 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

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

Download and print our checklist for choosing a deaf-friendly school and take it with you when visiting a school to collect key information. 

• Document

  Choosing a school for your deaf child checklist.pdf (920.06 KB)

The checklist includes questions to ask while visiting different schools. You will not need to ask all the questions on the checklist – just pick out the questions which are important to you. Make sure 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 school. Ask them what they think about the building, teachers, and the general feeling the school gives them.

Meet with the additional learning needs coordinator (ALNCo)

You may find it helpful to make an appointment to see the school’s ALNCo to discuss your child’s needs and how the school will be able to meet them.

Visit at different times of the day

Try to visit schools more than once and at different times of the day so you can see what the school is like in its normal setting. For example, what is it like at breaktime or when students are moving between classrooms? You can also start to think about the acoustics and 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.” 

Pamela

Other things to consider

• Location of the school – how far will your child have to travel? Can the local authority 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 you want your child to be taught in Welsh, you’ll need to consider a dual language or Welsh-medium school (Welsh government).
• If you’re considering a school with a specialist resource base, check the qualifications of staff in the resource base.
• How will this choice impact your family? For example, if you have older, hearing children at one primary school, will choosing a different school for your deaf child make the school run 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 ALN and an IDP, make sure to include this in your school application and describe why your chosen school will be best for your child. Most schools will give priority to children with ALN and an IDP. 

“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.” 

Pamela

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 an IDP. 

For support appealing a school placement, contact our Helpline.