Deaf Inclusion Team

The PATSS Deaf Inclusion (DI) Team provides support and advice for children and young people who are deaf. We use the term 'deaf' to refer to all levels of hearing loss. Where the word 'Deaf' is used it indicates someone who is culturally Deaf and who uses British Sign Language (BSL) as their first language.

Contacts details

Address:Ballard House
26 West Hoe Road
PL1 3BJ

Telephone number: 01752 305252

Email address: Send an email to:AccessEarlyHelp@plymouth.gov.uk

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Supporting Plymouth's deaf children and young people

We understand that navigating the world with deafness can present unique challenges for children, young people, and their families.

Our team is dedicated to providing practical and emotional support to help your child thrive and reach their full potential. We offer a range of services tailored to the specific needs of deaf children and young people, working collaboratively with families, carers, educational settings, and other professionals.

How we can help you

Our experienced team provides expert guidance and support across various key areas:

Empowering families and carers: We provide practical and emotional support, helping you navigate the unique challenges you may face and find effective solutions that truly work for your family.
Maximising listening potential: Through ongoing assessment of your child's functional listening skills, we help identify their specific needs, enabling you to create an environment where they can flourish.
Building confidence and independence: We're passionate about helping children develop essential independence skills and strong social-emotional well-being, ensuring they feel secure, confident, and ready to engage with the world around them.
Creating inclusive communities: We empower families and children to understand deafness and develop practical strategies that promote true inclusion in everyday life, fostering a sense of belonging and connection.
Optimising listening environments: We conduct thorough environmental checks and provide bespoke advice to create optimal listening conditions at home, in educational settings, and beyond, so children can hear to the best of their ability and thrive in these spaces.
Expert educational guidance: We provide practical and educational support to families, carers, early years settings, and schools, ensuring each child's learning environment is adapted to meet their specific needs and maximise learning potential.
Smooth transitions: We provide unwavering support during key transition points, such as moving between educational settings, ensuring that your child experiences a seamless progression in their learning journey, reducing anxiety and stress.
Promoting deaf awareness: We offer engaging and informative deaf awareness training to peer groups, extended family members, and professionals, empowering everyone around your child to create a welcoming and understanding community.
Specialised training programmes: We equip parents and professionals with tailored training, providing them with the knowledge and skills to best support a deaf child.
Direct teaching: We provide direct teaching to deaf children, targeting specific skills and academic needs, ensuring each child has individualised support where needed.
Accessing the curriculum: We offer expert guidance on accessing the curriculum through appropriate adaptations that take the needs of children with auditory needs into account, such as a sensory and experiential approach to learning.
Monitoring and progress tracking: We actively monitor your child's progress, contribute to setting realistic targets, and celebrate each step towards their goals, ensuring that no milestones are missed.
Navigating support networks: We provide a valuable signposting service, connecting you with a wider network of organisations, resources, and professional services available in the Plymouth area.
Positive role models: We offer access to deaf adults, who serve as inspirational role models, instilling a deep sense of pride and identity in deaf children, ensuring they know what's possible and are fully confident in themselves.

Our collaborative approach

We understand that a collaborative approach is essential to best support your child. We work closely with a range of professionals and organisations, ensuring a holistic and comprehensive approach:

Organisation/professional	Area of expertise
Paediatric Audiology Team	Hearing assessment and management
School/Setting-Based Staff	Day-to-day learning and support in education settings
Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCo)	Ensuring appropriate support and interventions for children with special educational needs
Consultant Paediatricians	General health and development of children
Ear, Nose, and Throat Consultants	Diagnosis and treatment of ear-related conditions
Cochlear Implant Team	Management and support for children with cochlear implants
Speech and Language Therapists	Communication, language development, and speech therapy
Educational Psychologists	Assessment, consultation, and support for children's learning and emotional development
Physiotherapists	Physical development and movement skills
Volunteers (e.g., Plymouth Deaf Children's Society)	Community support and activities
Parent/Family Support Advisors	Guidance and support for families navigating the education system
Sensory Solutions	Local service supporting children with sensory needs in Plymouth

Training offer and support

We offer training courses for parents, teachers, teaching assistants, and other professionals. For more information and a copy of our latest training calendar, contact louise.woodhead@plymouth.gov.uk

How to request advice and support support

To access our services, a Request for More Help form will need to be completed. For education settings, this usually follows a consultation between the PATSS link person assigned to the school and the Special Educational Needs Coordinator at the school.

Download and complete the Request for More Help form (PDF) [361KB]

Once completed, the Request for More Help form must be sent via email to AccessEarlyHelp@plymouth.gov.uk

It is essential that the Request for More Help form reflect the steps already taken, following a Graduated Approach to Inclusion.

We might not accept the request if there is insufficient evidence of needs and steps already taken.

Plymouth also has an Early Help and SEND Advice Line through which you can book a conversation with a Family Support worker to talk about any worries or questions you may have.

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Local offer

Plymouth uses an orange 'Local Offer icon' to show services that define themselves as suitable for children and young people with SEND. These are part of Plymouth's SEND Local Offer. We recommend that you contact the service provider to make sure the service is suitable for your child or young person.

Age range

Early Years - 0 to 5 years

Preparing for Adulthood

Primary - 5 to 11 years

Secondary - 11 to 18 years

Additional information

Based: Plymouth

Referral notes

Must live in Plymouth or attend a Plymouth school.

Services available to ages

0 to 1 years old
1 to 2 years old
2 to 3 years old
3 to 4 years old
4 to 5 years old
5 to 11 years old
12 to 16 years old
17 to 25 years old

Supporting people with

Hearing impairments

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