Deaf-friendly teaching
Create a more inclusive learning environment where deaf students feel supported and ready to succeed.
For more detailed advice, check out our free deaf-friendly teaching booklets linked below.
Top tips
1. Get the student's attention first
Always make sure you have the student’s attention before speaking. Use a wave or gently tap their arm or shoulder if needed.
2. Use visual supports
Reinforce spoken and written information with visuals like pictures, props and diagrams. Give the student time to view the material before you start talking again.
3. Speak naturally and keep your face visible
Speak at your normal pace without exaggeration. Make sure your face is well-lit and visible – don’t stand in front of bright windows, cover your mouth or turn away while talking.
4. Support vocabulary development
Use rich language, and explain and clarify when needed. Promote key vocabulary with visual aids, displays and handouts. For students who use communication support or interpreters, share topic specific signs and key language with them before you begin to teach.
5. Provide materials in advance
Give notes, slides and handouts to students and their support staff before the lesson. This helps reduce the pressure of multitasking during class.
6. Create an inclusive seating arrangement
Encourage students to sit where they can clearly see and hear you and their peers. In small groups, horseshoe layouts work well.
7. Check and maintain hearing technology
Regularly test personal hearing devices and assistive technology. Check in with the student to make sure they can hear you clearly. Make sure your setting has clear guidelines on responsibilities for equipment and liaising with relevant professionals.
8. Make group discussions accessible
Encourage students to speak one at a time and signal before talking. Repeat other students' comments and questions. Allow extra time for deaf students to respond.
9. Build in time for breaks
Deaf students work harder to listen, lip-read or sign which means they can tire easily. Help manage this by scheduling regular breaks, keeping concentration activities short, and offering quiet spaces for self-regulation.
10. Give more time to think
Deaf students may need extra time to process information and respond. Break lessons into smaller chunks to make learning more manageable.
Deaf-friendly teaching guides
For more in-depth guidance across different education phases, explore our free teaching resources:
- Deaf-friendly Early Education and Childcare (Shopify)
- Deaf-friendly Teaching: For primary school staff (Shopify)
- Deaf-friendly Teaching: For secondary school staff (Shopify)
- Deaf-friendly Teaching: For further education staff (Shopify)
- Deaf-friendly Higher Education (Shopify)
- Deaf-friendly Teaching: For children who use English as an additional language (EAL) (Shopify)
- Deaf-friendly Teaching: For staff in special schools (Shopify)
- Deaf-friendly Education: Northern Ireland (Shopify)
Training for educators
Our training courses and workshops introduce you to the skills and knowledge needed to support deaf children and young people.
We offer a range of flexible options, including free online courses you can complete at your own pace. These courses are ideal for individual learning or group sessions, such as inset days or whole-staff training.
Some popular sessions for educators include:
- Introduction to Deaf Awareness (CPD accredited)
- Introduction to Childhood Deafness (CPD accredited)
- Working with Deaf Children and Young People
Explore all our training courses for educators.
Full references for this webpage are available by emailing
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