Hearing Impaired Provision
Alma Park Resource Base for Deaf Children
Alma Park Primary School is home to one of Manchester’s resource provision for deaf children. This resource base is specifically designed to enable access to the curriculum for deaf pupils from Nursery to Year 6.
We provide a nurturing environment, which encourages all children to develop and grow into confident and independent young people.
We have a highly qualified team who are committed to ensuring that our pupils are included in school life; educationally, socially and emotionally. The teaching and support that pupils receive is tailored to their individual needs to give them the very best chance to fulfil their potential.
The partnership between home and school is vital, and we encourage parent/carer participation and support.
To ensure that every deaf child reaches their maximum social and academic potential by providing a child centred approach to develop language and learning.
The Resource Base
We have three discrete teaching areas and can accommodate up to 16 pupils. All children receive a curriculum and a level of support that reflects their individual needs.
Whilst in Nursery, children are assessed so that we can best meet their needs in future whether that be in sign language or in spoken language. This assessment also looks at their future placement whether in main stream, resource provision or special school.
We understand that all of our pupils have individual communication needs and therefore we offer tailored communication support to each pupil, including British Sign Language (BSL), Sign Supported English (SSE) and spoken English. Auditory Verbal techniques are used to develop spoken language where appropriate. Cued Speech is used with the signing children to develop phonic awareness and to help with spellings and lip reading.
The children’s language is tracked using our language development profiles both BSL and spoken. Children then receive specifically tailored language sessions to develop their receptive and expressive language skills.
All of the children’s cochlear implants and hearing aids are checked daily and in class where appropriate the children use an FM radio. All classrooms and the school hall have Soundfield systems to maximise listening conditions for all pupils.
All pupils follow the EYFS and National Curriculums at a pace and level appropriate to them. There is an inclusive learning environment in both the Resource Base and the mainstream school. Pupils have access to Literacy and Maths which is taught in small groups in the Resource Base by a Teacher of the Deaf and/or a Specialist Teaching Assistant. In our lessons we regularly use objects, pictures, role play and videos to enhance learning. Pupils usually attend a combination of both mainstream classes and Resource Base classes.
We have three qualified Teachers of the Deaf. A Teacher of the Deaf is a qualified teacher who has undertaken additional mandatory qualifications specialising in teaching deaf learners. They plan, teach, assess and monitor pupils to ensure that they achieve their potential and take part in the life of the school. The Teacher of the Deaf undertakes specialist assessments and provides an annual report for all pupils.
We have several Specialist Teaching Assistants and they work both in the Resource Base and in the mainstream classes. Most staff have recognised qualifications in British Sign Language. Working alongside the Teacher of the Deaf, they deliver short intervention sessions to pupils in areas such as speech and language, phonics, social skills, maths skills and spelling, and support pupils in the independent maintenance of hearing aids and cochlear implants.
We regularly refer children to a qualified Speech & Language Therapist who then conducts assessments and provides a programme or work. This is then delivered by the Teacher of the Deaf or Specialist Teaching Assistant. They can also conduct language assessments for Annual Reviews and target setting.
The team work closely with other professionals and outside agencies as appropriate. These include:
- Educational Psychologists
- Family Support Worker
- Deaf CAMHS
- Early Help Hubs
- Social Care
- Occupational Therapists
- School Nurse
- Educational Audiologist
- Audiology Team
- Cochlear Implant Centre
- Community Paediatricians
Should you require any further information please contact:
Tina Kirwin-McGinley: Assistant Head Teacher for Manchester Sensory Support Service