Changes to the number of teachers of the deaf children will not stop them achieving, Kirklees councillor says

From: Huddersfield Examiner - Jan 31, 2013

A MOTHER of two deaf children was told changes to the teachers of the deaf provision would not change the support they receive.

Kirklees Council’s cabinet last night heard from Hibba Hussain who has two daughters, aged four and 22, who are both deaf.

She told councillors that her youngest daughter’s teacher of the deaf had not returned to her school for her weekly visit since the January school term began

Mrs Hussain said: “My daughter Amani gets 20 hours a week of support from a teaching assistant who is guided by the teacher of the deaf, so I wonder how my daughter’s great progress is likely to continue without this specialist support.”

Clr Cath Harris, cabinet member for children’s services, said the council would look into her case, but said changes to teachers of the deaf were about strengthening support for children not cutting it.

Kirklees has reduced the number of teachers of the deaf from 10.3 to 7.7 – but they say demand for the provision is much lower, at between 6.2 and 6.9 teachers.

Clr Harris said: “This work has been about redesigning our support services for children with hearing difficulties. It’s never been about cuts, in fact we’ve had capital money put in to support what we’re trying to do.

@ 2013 Huddersfield Examiner