AQW 8265/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 06/03/2024
Answered On Date: 15/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education what additional support his Department can put in place to support young deaf children to access early education and childcare opportunities.

Answer:

The Education Authority’s (EA) Sensory Service provides support to deaf children and their families from the time of diagnosis, often from birth, through all phases of education. The service provides a comprehensive package of support in the early years such as:

Home visits and family support to help them to understand their child’s hearing loss, support their child’s development of language and communication through play-based activities, monitor progress and set language and listening goals;

Advice on communication choices and early literacy experience;

Liaison with health professionals;

Training for children, parents and school staff;

Management of equipment such as hearing aids and cochlear implants;

Assistance to pre-school settings and for transitions into pre-schools settings.

The effectiveness of the sensory service is being considered as part of my department’s End to End (E2E) Review of Special Educational Needs (SEN).

In addition, my department provides funding for childcare during holiday periods for children with hearing loss/hearing impairment through the Holiday Grant Scheme for Children with a Disability, part of the Bright Start School Age Childcare Grant Scheme.

The development and implementation of an Early Learning and Childcare Strategy is a priority for me. Provision for children with additional needs is being considered as part of the development of the Strategy.