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BMBC Inclusion Services Hearing Support Service

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Meet the Team

Team Manager
  • Naomi Robinson
Qualified Teachers of the Deaf
  • Leanne Allen
  • Rebecca Cook
  • Sarah Lister
Specialist Support Worker
  • Melissa Collinson
The Hearing Support Service consists of three qualified teachers of the deaf (TOD). All teachers of the deaf need to hold a specialist mandatory qualification (MQ) which addresses a wide range of specialist outcomes. Throughout this page the term ‘deaf’ is used to cover the whole range of hearing loss. The team also has a specialist support worker (SSW) who supports the team to deliver interventions and promote positive outcomes for deaf children and young people.

What we do

Teachers of the deaf help families with pre-school children to support their child in developing good language and communication skills.

Teachers working with deaf children need an understanding of the complexity of language and its development and how this is affected by hearing loss. Teachers of the Deaf hold an additional post-graduate qualification in the Education of Deaf Children.

The team supports children and young people aged 0 to 25 years across a range of different settings. It includes the family home, nurseries, pre-schools, primary, secondary, special schools and colleges.

We work primarily with class teachers and families to remove barriers to learning arising from hearing loss, to enable equal access to the learning environment and advise on curriculum planning and delivery. We support parents and carers of children and young people with hearing loss. We work with parents and carers in an established parent group called Deaf Friends.


How we work

Following an initial assessment to identify the level of need, an appropriate level of support based on the National Sensory Impairment Partnership criteria (NatSIP) will be offered.

We offer a range of specialised support and training to meet the needs of deaf children and young people. We visit children and young people in their homes, preschool settings and schools. We work with them and adults around them to develop their communication, language and independence in managing their hearing loss and assistive equipment.

Accessing the service

The Hearing Support Service is accessed by a referral from health services such as NHS Audiology and New-born Hearing Screening programme. If settings/schools have concerns regarding a CYP’s hearing, this should be reported to parents. Parents should contact their GP or local audiology department for their CYP’s hearing to be assessed.

What our schools and parents/carers say about us

“Always a positive service from the team. My daughter has been provided with nothing but high end care and her needs are always put first. Thanks so much.”


 “Staff are absolutely brilliant with my son. Always listen to him and act quickly to anything that might need adjusting. He loves his meetings with them. Staff always phone me to update me when they visit him in school.”


Contact us

Need help?

0800 0345 340 

SENDLocalOffer@Barnsley.gov.uk

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