SEND Review ‘misses opportunity’ to increase support for deaf children, MP warns

MP Emma Lewell-Buck, former shadow secretary for education, told experts in hearing loss and families of deaf children at an event in Westminster, that the government’s review of provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) should have included a proposal for auditory verbal therapy (AVT) to be embedded on the referral pathway for children with hearing loss.

AVT is a specialist parent-coaching programme which supports deaf children, who use technology such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, to learn to listen and speak.

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Despite being widely used in countries like Australia and New Zealand, it is only available to a handful of 7,200 profoundly deaf children in the UK through charity Auditory Verbal UK (AVUK), which hosted the event.

Lewell-Buck encouraged attendees to write to Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi urging him to back AVUK’s campaign to see AVT made available to all deaf children who want it through publicly-funded services.

She called for “better early intervention for deaf children” to reduce loneliness and educational outcomes, adding that “children on the AVUK programme are achieving on a par with their hearing peers”.

An emotional and up lifting afternoon hosting @AuditoryVerbal’s #PowerofSpeech event in Parliament.

Absolutely blown away by the children’s confidence and courage to tell a room full of people their stories ⭐️🌟. #HearUsNow pic.twitter.com/WSiM90Snp4

— Emma Lewell-Buck MP (@EmmaLewellBuck) June 14, 2022

“This opportunity should be available to all children regardless of the area in which they live,” she said, adding: "The government said their SEND review proposals launched in March of this year were part of their ‘determination to level up opportunities for all children and young people- without exception’.

"Again their rhetoric is far removed from reality, especially when it comes to deaf children. AVUK have a powerful and proven track record, where 80 per cent of their graduates have language skills on par with their hearing peers. I have seen first hand the powerful impact their work can have, I have also seen how many children aren’t able to access this learning. The SEND review consultation closes soon.  I would urge everyone to pressure the government to make AVT available for all deaf children."

The MP for South Shields, who hosted the event, spoke after seven young graduates of AVUK’s programme read out their winning submissions to a literacy competition held by the charity.

“I was absolutely blown away by the children’s confidence and courage to tell a room full of people their stories,” Lewell-Buck said.

Inspirational to hear about the amazing work of @AuditoryVerbal at their #powerofspeech event in Parliament today. AVUK is a charity that campaigns for vital support to provide school-age pupils affected by hearing loss with the right tools and confidence to succeed. pic.twitter.com/pGjSoLPTEr

— Greg Smith MP (@gregsmith_uk) June 14, 2022

Research by AVUK, which was launched at the event, finds that deaf children who have followed an auditory verbal programme are achieving the same levels as typically hearing children in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage one. 

Anita Grover, chief executive of AVUK, told the Power of Speech event, that without improved accessibility to early intervention support for all children with SEND, the government will struggle to achieve its target of 90 per cent of children leaving primary school with the expected standards of reading, writing and maths set out in the Levelling Up white paper.

"Early and effective support is vital whether families want their child to use spoken language, sign language or both. All deaf children deserve the same opportunities in life as hearing children. 

"We want to enable all families who wish their child to develop spoken language to have the opportunity to access an auditory verbal programme through publicly funded services.

"To do that we need to expand the number of specialist auditory verbal therapists working in the NHS and local services. We are calling on the government to hear us now and make the necessary investment in the workforce to support deaf children now and in the future,” she added.

The Department for Education’s consultation on its SEND and AP green paper closes on 22 July.