More than a third of councils in England are cutting educational support totalling £4m for deaf children, according to figures obtained by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS). The figures, gained through freedom of information requests, show that councils in these areas are cutting 10% on average from deaf children’s services, which the charity warns are already near breaking point. Meanwhile, deaf children are falling behind at every stage of school, and at GCSE two-thirds of deaf children fail to achieve a grade 5 in both English and maths – a key government target. The cuts come as councils across England struggle to meet growing demand for support for children with special needs. Susan Daniels, the NDCS chief executive, said: “Deaf children can achieve anything other children can, but to do this it is crucial they get the right support.

Source: The Guardian May 13, 2018 22:52 UTC