Two schools to lose hearing impairment units

A children's charity said it was "very disappointed" with plans to shut specialist hearing units at two schools in Torquay.

Torbay Council's overview and scrutiny committee agreed to go ahead with the planned unit closures at St Margaret's Primary School and The Spires College.

Councillor Nick Bye, cabinet member for children's services, said the council commissioned 16 education health and care plan (EHCP) places, but only five children were in the placements.

Deputy director of local engagement at the National Deaf Children's Society, Martin Thacker, said deaf children would struggle without the support.

A petition against the plans gained more than 1,600 signatures and a protest was held in the town's centre ahead of the decision.

Mr Thacker added: "Without this support, deaf children can fall behind in lessons, struggle to build relationships with classmates, and experience low self-esteem and confidence.

"Hearing resource provisions are vital for the wellbeing of deaf children and mean they can thrive within mainstream schools alongside their hearing classmates."

Councillor Bye said the closures of the units would not lead to a "change in support".

"It's absolutely a continuation of support, it's no change to support, it's just the way we're funded," he said.

"There is a different funding model. Money will follow the individual pupil."

St Margaret's Academy previously said the council only counted children with an EHCP and not other hearing-impaired youngsters which it also supported.

Felicity Morris, secretary of the parent teachers association at St Margaret's, said the council was taking away specialist support "without meaningful or lawful consultation".

"Parents were not consulted," she said. "Qualified teachers of the deaf were excluded. The heads of both schools weren't asked. They were just told.

"This is not only morally wrong but also legally risky. It is not about buildings and budgets – it's about deaf children, and whether this council will stand by them.

"Don't close the doors on the only spaces where they are truly understood."

Councillor Bye said there were similar numbers of hearing impaired children attending other schools in the Bay, which do not have a hearing impairment unit.

"They flourish there. Surely with the great history and tradition at both St Margaret's and Spires they should be able to flourish there and I'm sure they will," he said.

The committee conceded the consultation and information could have been handled better.

Mr Thacker said the charity was considering its response to the council's decision.

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