Hearing Impaired Base
Our Hearing Impaired Resource Base is situated at Rushy Meadow Primary Academy, Carshalton. We have 11 places for deaf pupils aged 4 – 11 years, who have a moderate – profound hearing loss and an Education, Health Care Plan (EHCP) which states hearing loss as their primary need.
Our deaf pupils are fully included in the school; they are part of their mainstream class, working and playing alongside their hearing peers and withdrawn for specialist interventions depending on each pupil's individual needs.
'Both in the mainstream classes and the specialist provision, pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Leaders work closely with external agencies and other professionals to make sure that pupils’ individual needs are met.' [OfSTED report 2019]
Admissions
Entry into the Hearing Impaired Resource Base (HIRB) can only be made through the Local Authority SEN Panel for children with an EHCP where hearing impairment is their primary need. If a child has an EHCP for a hearing impairment and parents would like to apply for a place in the HIRB, they should speak to their child's SEN caseworker who can guide them through this process.
Communication
We follow a Total Communication (TC) approach at the HIRB. We support deaf pupils who use speech, a combination of speech/signed supported English (SSE) and British Sign Language (BSL). Our deaf pupils have the opportunity to learn BSL.
Specialist Support
We have a team of qualified, highly skilled and experienced staff: a Teacher of the Deaf (ToD) who is on site everyday employed by Cognus, specialist Hearing Impaired Teaching Assistants (HI TAs) and a visiting specialist Speech and Language Therapist. Our HI TAs support our deaf pupils in their mainstream class to enable them to access the curriculum, check their hearing devices daily and also provide pastoral care.
Nurture
We believe it is important to provide a nurturing environment for our deaf pupils in order for them to develop self-confidence in their own ability and self-esteem as a young deaf person. We give our deaf pupils regular opportunities to learn and socialise with their deaf peers, including trips to help develop their life skills.
Parents/carers
We understand the challenges and rewards of having a deaf child and fully support our families. They are welcome to contact the ToD via telephone, email, Home/School book or in person to discuss any issues or ask advice.
If you would like to find out more or to book a visit, please call: 020 8669 7588.
