Rethink on axing teachers for deaf after petition

A COUNCIL is to take a fresh look at proposals to cut the number of teachers of deaf children after campaigners handed in 4,000-name petition.

Councillors in Kirklees are planning to reduce the number of teachers of deaf children from 10.3 posts to 6.5.

Parents said 235 children will receive no extra support at school.

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Councillors have admitted they may not have had the full facts following an appeal by Jayne Fenton, of Huddersfield, who has two deaf children.

The council has pledged to work with Kirklees Deaf Children’s Society and the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) to get all the facts before any decisions are implemented.

Alison Lawson, of the NDCS, said: “Without the support from people in Kirklees getting this debate and securing this pledge from the council would never have been possible, and we are grateful to everyone who rallied round to sign the petition.

“This debate gave Jayne the chance to explain how vital teachers of the deaf are to ensure that deaf children have the equipment they need at school, as well as to educate their teachers and parents in how to communicate with them.

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“In Kirklees 235 deaf children rely on this service, some of whom are at school and others who have a teacher of the deaf who visits them at home to prepare them to start mainstream school. If this support is cut the council will be setting them up to fail.”