Report Urges Better Access To The Curriculum For Deafblind Children.

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Report Urges Better Access To The Curriculum For Deafblind Children.
Department for Education and Employment.
30 June 1997

Education Minister Estelle Morris today announced plans to give deafblind children better access to the curriculum.

Launching a report, 'Curriculum Access for Deafblind Children', published by the Department today, Ms Morris said:

"Deafblind children should be given every possible opportunity to follow the mainstream curriculum, but they have complex and varied educational needs. This report takes us one step further in giving them the help they need.

"The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority will now work to take forward aspects of the work relating to the curriculum. A working group, including a number of practising teachers, will be set up to consider the development of practical curriculum guidance for teachers."

The report identifies effective strategies which teachers have used with deafblind children and recommends further work on developing and recording successful approaches to the curriculum.

The research findings highlight:

the importance of communicative strategies so that the child can both anticipate an activity and gain a clearer understanding of what a task demands;

the importance of being able to provide intensive one-to-one teaching to maximise the effectiveness of using the strategies;

the importance of teachers having access to information and sharing expertise with others in the field;

the need for teachers to be able to use a wide range of specialist strategies, especially where they are working with pupils with the most complex needs; and

the need for teachers to ensure their teaching strategies are underpinned by a sound theoretical knowledge so that they are confident in making the right adaptations for the child's developmental and educational needs.

The report was written by a team of researchers based at the University of London Institute of Education, and funded jointly by the Department and Sense, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association.

A summary of the report will be sent to all special schools and local education authorities in England, and a number of voluntary organisations and individuals with an interest in special educational needs.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The report (£4.95) is available from Unit 8, Cambertown Ltd, Commercial Road, Goldthorpe Industrial Estate, Goldthorpe, Nr Rotherham, S63 9BL. Tel: 01709 888688.

Published: 6 July 1997

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