25th January 2012

Salford City Council budget plans threaten Deaf education

Parents of Deaf children and National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) have criticised Salford City Council's plans to cut support for Deaf pupils.

NDCS say the council is planning to reduce a team of nine teachers for the Deaf, and teaching assistants supporting Deaf children, to just four across Salford.

Jo Campion, NDCS campaigns deputy director, say the council's plans could affect 240 deaf children's education and branded the cuts as "some of the worst that we have seen in the country."

The Salford Deaf Children’s Society, a local group, with help from NDCS, hopes to collect 3,000 signatures on a petition to force a debate at the council chamber.

Councillor Margaret Morris, lead member for children’s services in Salford, said: “We are currently reviewing the way we support children with special educational needs in the city in order to ensure our schools are able to cater for a wide range of different needs.”

She insisted children who already have statements of special educational need will continue to receive support.

Parents are expected to meet with the council on Friday 27th January to urge them to stop the cuts.

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