Council faces legal challenge over plan to axe deaf children's support

The charity has applied to the High Court for a judicial review into the cuts. It claims the council failed to properly assess the impact of reduced funding on deaf children.

Under the proposals, the charity understands there will be only three visiting teachers of the deaf left to support 200 of the city’s deaf pupils. The NDCS said that council officers have told the charity that the plans will take effect from 1 September.

An NDCS spokeswoman said: "There is pressing need to act now before it’s too late." 

NDCS deputy director of campaigns Jo Campion added: "The council has been utterly reckless in its decision to cut support that deaf children in Stoke-on-Trent need to achieve at school.  

"It has rushed these cuts through with no regard for the impact on the future of these deaf children and have left parents to rely on rumour to find out what exactly has been going on.  

"The council has refused to reconsider its actions and so we have now been forced to take legal action. We want the council to be in no doubt that we will do everything in our power to protect these children."
 
A spokesman for the council said: "In light of impending legal action from the National Deaf Children's Society, it would be inappropriate for the city council to comment further at this stage."