Part of the iSEND Service, the Hearing Support (HS) Team consists of Specialist Teachers (Teachers of the Deaf) dedicated to fostering the educational growth and personal development of children and young people (CYP) with hearing loss.

Who do the team support

The Hearing Support Specialist Teachers support children and young people 0 to 25 years old with or without Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) who have a diagnosed hearing loss and meet the criteria according to the NatSIP Eligibility Framework.  

How does the team support families

• help to explain audiological information and liaise with Audiology/ENT
• support with understanding the implications of hearing loss
• help to develop a CYP’s listening skills
• support with language development and communication
• providing access to BSL support as appropriate
• provide support with personal hearing equipment and specialist equipment
• loan specialist equipment as appropriate
• provide opportunities for parents/carers to meet and share experiences at preschool groups and to contact and access other supportive agencies
• offering advice ahead of transitions such as preschool, school, college or university
• supporting the CYP and their family at multi-disciplinary meetings
• Encouraging a CYP’s participation in a range of leisure and out-of-school activities

How does the team support schools and settings

• Explaining the nature of hearing loss and its implications for education
• Support to ensure access to the curriculum
• Advice on classroom/setting management strategies and on the acoustic environment
• Observe in the classroom/learning environment to support and inform inclusive practice
• Work closely with the teachers/staff to assess and monitor CYP’s educational needs
• Provide training and advice on the maintenance and management of specialist equipment
• Providing a range of informal and formal bespoke training
• Providing advice for High Needs Block Funding (HNBF) requests and/or as part of the needs assessment process for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
• Advising on target setting for the CYP (at SEN Support or EHCP level)
• Contribute to annual review, review meetings, SEN Support meetings and multi-professional meetings
• Advising on appropriate access arrangements for internal and external examinations

How to refer

Referrals are from Audiology departments or ENT professionals following the diagnosis of hearing loss and should be sent by email to sts@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

How to contact the team

You can contact the Hearing Support team by:

• Email: sts@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
• Phone: 01494 475199

You can also contact the iSEND support line on 01296 382135. 

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD):

Buckinghamshire Hearing Support Specialist Teachers do not currently provide direct support for children and young people who have APD and normal levels of hearing.

If a deaf child also has been diagnosed with APD, we can provide our usual levels of support.

Aimed at practitioners the Local Area Position Statement for APD is designed to improve the consistency of approach amongst professionals and reduce uncertainty for families.