Contact: Eric Smith, Education Officer SEN; 01962 846245; [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The Executive Member's approval is sought to consultations taking place with appropriate schools and other parties interested in the provision in Hampshire for deaf and hearing impaired children and young people on the future patterns of support for pre-school children and their families and of resourced mainstream school provision, as set out in the attached consultation paper.

1.2 The following decision is sought:

1. That consultations take place with appropriate headteachers, governing bodies and staff of Hampshire schools, with relevant County Council Services and with parents, children and other interested parties on the proposed:

· communication policy to underpin provision for deaf and HI pupils

· pattern of resourced provision for deaf and HI pupils in mainstream schools

· support for pre-school children and their families.

2. That the outcomes of consultations on the proposed pattern of resourced provision be reported to the Children's Services Policy Review Committee and the Executive Member in 2006.

3. That a report on services and provision for pre-school deaf and HI children and their families be presented to the Policy Review Committee and Executive Member for Children's Services.

2 Reason

2.1 The recent trend of pupil numbers in Hampshire's resourced mainstream provision for deaf and hearing impaired pupils indicates that the viability of some of these provisions may be at risk, and that they may, therefore, have greater difficulty in maintaining appropriate quality of support and range of educational and other opportunities for the pupils.

2.2 Provision in mainstream schools has been developed separately for pupils using auditory/oral modes of communication from those using sign language. There is evidence that this may no longer be the most effective way for supporting these pupils.

2.3 Many professionals working with deaf and HI children and their families believe that families should be enabled to make informed choices at an early age about the communication modes which they wish their child to develop. This is reflected in the Communication Policy which has been approved by the County Deaf and HI Group which includes representatives of the County Council's Children's Services and other agencies. Comprehensive services are not currently available consistently throughout the county to support families in this way and to provide the necessary communication support to these families of pre-school children who wish to develop skills in signed communication.

2.4 This decision supports the aims of the Children Act 2004 by reviewing and seeking to improve provision for a particular group of vulnerable children and their families. The decision will support the aims of the County Council to:

· develop the quality of life in Hampshire for these children and young people;

· provide high quality services to the public.

3 Other options considered and rejected.

None

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted

None

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

None

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor D A Kirk

Executive Member for Education