If your child has a medically diagnosed hearing impairment, they may need additional support to help them achieve their potential at school. The Hearing Support Service is a team of specialist teachers and support workers who can work with you and your child as soon as they are identified as being deaf.
How we can help
We can provide advice and support for you and your child through from the early years until they leave school. We work with children in schools and at home and provide practical advice on all aspects of language and communication. We will talk to you about the level of support your child will need and the range of specialist equipment available.
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes all forms of communication (other than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. Within the Sensory Support Team we support using whichever communication methods will best meet the needs of the child. This can include British Sign Language, Sign Support English, Visual Phonics and Communicate in Print. We also can support using an Auditory Verbal Approach.
Within Disabled Children's Social Care, there is also a specialist social worker for D/deaf children.
Starting school
When your child starts school, the team can offer you advice and information to help you make your choice. They work closely with schools to advise on how they can best work with your child and ensure that they are supported to achieve their potential. Children are supported at all times of transition to help them prepare for the next stage of their education.
There are two specialist units in local schools which provide more intensive support for pupils with the highest needs. These are the Hearing Support Centre at Mayfield Primary School and Hearing Support Centre at Cottenham Village College.
How we work with children and young people
How you can be involved
Your views and opinions are always important to us. We are in the process of evolving our Parents Forum meetings to support co-production between the Sensory Support Team, parents/carers and children/young people. We advertise these events via email, letters and in our termly newsletters.
For more information, please email [email protected]
Further information
Support services for children and young people with hearing impairment are listed in the Cambridgeshire Online Directory .
Contact us
Sensory Support Service (HI Team)
Babbage House SS1015
Castle Park
Castle Hill
Cambridge
CB3 0AT
Telephone: 01223 728 310
Email: [email protected]
