Cuts will hit deaf children in Blackpool

Deaf children in Blackpool are in danger of falling behind at school due to council cuts of vital services they rely on.
Councillor Kath BensonCouncillor Kath Benson
Councillor Kath Benson

Blackpool Council is cutting 36 per cent of its support for deaf children, a total of £86,675.

The National Deaf Children’s Society fear staff who support deaf children may be lost, access to technology their children rely on will be cut back, and deaf children will start to fall behind as a result.

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Cuts in Blackpool come as a third of councils across England have revealed they are cutting the education support they give to deaf children this year.

The latest Department for Education data shows that deaf children are falling behind their hearing classmates at every stage of school.

Hazel Badjie, North West regional director at the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “It’s absolutely devastating that Blackpool Council have proposed such deep and damaging cuts to the system the county’s deaf children rely on.”

Coun Kathryn Benson, Blackpool Council cabinet cember for Schools and Learning, said: “We did undertake a review of services and the interests of children were put at the heart of this process. We take our duties and responsibilities very seriously.”