Online information sessions for professionals
Each month, we'll be hosting free online information and advice sessions for professionals who support or work with deaf children and young people. Each session will be on a different topic.
During the live sessions, you'll be able to:
- learn more about supporting deaf children and young people, particularly during the current COVID-19 situation
- join discussions with other professionals
- ask questions to our experts.
Booking is essential for the online sessions as places are limited. But if you're unable to attend, you can register to watch them on-demand at a later date.
What you'll need to join our online sessions
As long as you have access to a computer, smartphone or tablet with an internet connection then you'll be able to access our online sessions using Zoom.
After registering online, you'll receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the session. A password will be provided to join the session on Zoom. Only people who have registered will be admitted into the session. The Zoom meeting will enable the chat function for the purpose of asking questions. This will be moderated.
Communication support
Closed captioning is available for all our online events as well as BSL interpreters. If you require a Welsh translation, please contact us at least a week before the session.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more, please email [email protected].
Upcoming online information sessions
Making webinars accessible for deaf learners
Thursday 11 March 2021, 4pm to 5pm
Together in partnership with the Education and Training Foundation, we are delivering a free webinar for staff working in the Further Education and Training sector.
This one hour session will help you to understand the main barriers that deaf learners face when accessing webinars, and how these can be overcome using tech solutions and adjustments to teaching. You'll also have the opportunity to put questions to experts in deaf education.
You can find out more and book now on the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) website.
Watch our previous sessions on-demand
The READY Study (Recording Emerging Adulthood in Deaf Youth)
– wave 1a early findings
This session was recorded live in December 2020. Register to watch the on-demand recording.
The READY study was commissioned by the National Deaf Children’s Society to understand more about the risk and protective factors leading to deaf young people’s achievement of autonomy, wellbeing, educational/occupational attainment, and social development.
It is a five-year longitudinal study, that will follow a cohort of up to 300 young deaf people, first joining the study aged between 16 and 19 years old.
Alys Young, who leads the study, will share early findings from the first 92 young people recruited. The presentation will focus on health, wellbeing, social networks and friendship groups, and self-determination. Data is compared with general population normative data for this age group.
Supporting Deaf Young People With Post-16 Education
These sessions were recorded live in November 2020. Register to watch the on-demand recordings.
Post-16 education can seem confusing with the wide range of different options available to deaf young people. Funding arrangements can vary a lot in different education settings. Our expert, Martin, will be helping you make sense of it all in this session which will cover:
- the different options available for deaf young people aged 16 . These include further education, higher education, and apprenticeships
- the support available to deaf young people in different settings and how it's funded
- how post-16 education and support for deaf young people is being impacted by Coronavirus
- our resources to support professionals to provide young people with useful information and guidance.
Current Changes to Education for Deaf Children in Scotland
This session was recorded live on 2 September 2020. Register to watch the on-demand recording.
Join our expert, Alasdair O’Hara, for our live session for professionals working in Scotland.
Due to COVID-19, there have been huge changes to how children are educated. In this session, Alasdair will be giving an overview of the national picture in Scotland.
This will cover:
- what we know about the current support available for deaf children in Scotland
- the impact of the pandemic on children with Additional Support Needs
- our policy response and our advice for professionals
- the wider re-opening of schools and the implications for deaf children.
Current Changes to Education for Deaf Children in Northern Ireland
This session was recorded live on 27 August 2020. Register to watch the on-demand recording.
Join our expert, Alasdair O’Hara, for our live session for professionals working in Northern Ireland.
Due to COVID-19, there have been huge changes to how children are educated. In this session, Alasdair will be giving an overview of the national picture in Northern Ireland.
This will cover:
- what we know about the current support available for deaf children in Northern Ireland
- the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with Special Educational Needs
- our policy response and our advice for professionals
- the wider re-opening of schools and the implications for deaf children.
Current Changes to Education for Deaf Children in England
This session was recorded live on 1 July 2020. Register to watch the on-demand recording.
Join our expert, Ian Noon, for our first live session for professionals working in England.
Due to COVID-19, there have been huge changes to how children are educated. In this session, Ian will be giving an overview of the national picture in England.
This will cover:
- what we know about the current support available for deaf children in England
- the implications of school closures - in particular, providing online remote support and the impact on children with Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Plans
- our policy response and advice for professionals
the wider re-opening of schools and the implications for deaf children.
Current Changes to Education for Deaf Children in Wales
This session was recorded live on 3 July 2020. Register to watch the on-demand recording.
Join our expert, Debbie Thomas, for our first live session for professionals working in Wales.
Due to COVID-19, there have been huge changes to how children are educated. In this session, Debbie will be giving an overview of the national picture in Wales.
This will cover:
- what we know about the current support available for deaf children in Wales - in particular, the impact on children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs
- our policy response and advice for professionals
- the implications for deaf children in Wales with plans for the autumn term.