Where are deaf children educated?
Most deaf children attend mainstream schools. Some of these schools have resource bases (or units) led by qualified Teachers of the Deaf. A smaller number of children are taught in special schools some of which offer residential provision. It is a requirement that pupils in these schools and resource bases are taught by appropriately qualified specialist Teachers of the Deaf and that they obtain this qualification within three years of beginning their work with deaf pupils. Peripatetic (or advisory) Teachers of the Deaf work for local education authority advisory and support services for deaf pupils. They support deaf children who are integrated into mainstream and special schools on an individual basis. An important part of their work is collaboration with mainstream classroom teachers who teach deaf pupils from day to day, and the management of support provided by teaching assistants (TAs) or CSWs (Communication Support Workers) who often accompany deaf pupils in lessons. Peripatetic
