Parents going back to school to improve communication with their children

PARENTS of deaf children are being offered free sign language lessons after it was found that some young people were unable to communicate with their own families.

Staff at Royal School for the Deaf Derby have received £1,618 to run British Sign Language (BSL) classes for the parents and carers of children at the school.

During lockdown some pupils at the Ashbourne Road school felt isolated and were unable to express their feelings because the hearing members of their families were not able to sign.

Now, thanks to a grant from Foundation Derbyshire, the school is starting family classes and workshops to encourage better communication between home and school.

Head teacher Helen Shepherd said: “Over the last two years parents have spent a lot more time with their children and it has become more obvious that some families cannot communicate effectively in British Sign Language.

“Many families can communicate using basic gestures but are not able to develop full conversations or expressions of feelings, thoughts and ideas.

“This has had an impact on all family members, but has particularly affected the deaf young person’s wellbeing.”

Statistically, 80% of deaf children are born into hearing families who may never have met a deaf person before and have no idea how to communicate with them.

The school intends to work with two or three families at a time using themes to support communication in the home, rather than working towards exams. The deaf child will be an integral part of the workshops so they can support the learning process and practise at home.

Mrs Shepherd added: “If there is little communication at home the deaf child may not understand where they are going on a trip or how to input into family routines.

“We are a residential school and so many pupils live on site during the week, but we want their home lives to be as fulfilling and rewarding as their school life.

“We are thrilled to have received this grant which will enable us to support parents and siblings to help overcome the challenges of growing up deaf in a hearing household.”