This is part of our series of guides for parents of deaf children. You can also read: Deaf children birth to 5 | Deaf young people: transition to adulthood (16 to 25) | Back to the main deaf children page.
Supporting Deaf Children at school is essential for enabling children to reach their full potential. Starting school is a big moment for any child — and for the parents of deaf children, it brings a fresh wave of questions, decisions and concerns. Which school is right? What support is your child entitled to? Who do you talk to if things are not working?
The answers are rarely simple, but understanding the system makes it much easier to navigate. This guide covers everything from school choices and EHC plans to communication support workers and what to do if your child is struggling.
Choosing the right school
Most deaf children attend their local mainstream school. For many children — particularly those with mild to moderate hearing loss using hearing aids — this works well, especially if the school has experience of supporting deaf pupils and is willing to make reasonable adjustments.
However, mainstream school is not always the best option, particularly if your child is profoundly deaf, uses BSL as their first language, or is the only deaf child in the school. In those cases, it may be worth considering:
- A mainstream school with a specialist resourced provision — these are mainstream schools with a dedicated deaf unit and specialist staff, including Teachers of the Deaf. Children attend mainstream classes but have additional specialist support. In Milton Keynes, St Paul’s Catholic School has experience supporting deaf children.
- A specialist school for deaf children — for children with more complex needs or who use BSL as their primary language. Heathlands School in St Albans is one of the nearest specialist deaf schools to Milton Keynes.
In most cases, your child will need an EHC plan (see below) to access a resourced provision or specialist school place.
Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans
An EHC plan is a legally binding document that describes your child’s needs and sets out the specific support they are entitled to receive from the local authority. It covers education, health and social care needs together.
EHC plans are not automatic — you or your child’s school need to apply for an assessment. The local authority then decides whether to carry out an assessment, and if so, whether to issue a plan. This process has legal timelines that the local authority must follow.
Key facts about EHC plans:
- Either you or your child’s school can request an EHC needs assessment
- The local authority must tell you within 6 weeks whether they will carry out an assessment
- If agreed, the final plan must be issued within 20 weeks of the initial request
- You have the right to appeal if your child is refused an assessment or if you disagree with the plan
- EHC plans are reviewed at least once a year
- Plans last until your child leaves education or the local authority decides the plan is no longer needed — and they can continue until age 25
For detailed guidance on applying for an EHC plan, appealing decisions, and understanding what should be in the plan, see our dedicated EHCP guide for parents of deaf children.
→ EHCP for deaf children: a parent’s guide
IN MILTON KEYNES
MK SENDIAS (Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service) is a free, confidential and impartial service for children and young people aged 0–25 with SEND, and their parents. They can advise on EHC plans, school choices and your legal rights.
The Children with Disabilities Team at Milton Keynes Council provides a statutory social work service for children with disabilities aged 0–19. They can advise on support packages, direct payments, respite and short breaks.
MK Children with Disabilities Team
Communication support in the classroom
Depending on your child’s needs, they may be entitled to communication support in school. This can take several forms:
- Communication Support Worker (CSW): A professional who supports a deaf child in the classroom, often using sign language or lip-speaking. CSWs are distinct from teaching assistants — they have specialist communication training.
- Radio aid / FM system: A microphone worn by the teacher that transmits directly to your child’s hearing aid or implant, reducing the impact of background noise and distance.
- Note-taker: For older children and young people, a note-taker can record key information from lessons so the deaf pupil can focus on listening and watching.
- Lip-speaker: A professional who silently mouths a speaker’s words to make lip-reading easier — used in some formal settings.
What is available will depend on your child’s EHC plan and what the school can reasonably provide. If your child needs support that their school is not currently providing, contact MK SENDIAS for advice.
Supporting your child at school age
Beyond the formal support structures, there are practical things you can do as a parent:
- Stay in regular contact with your child’s Teacher of the Deaf and the school’s SENCO. They are your key contacts for raising concerns.
- Understand your child’s rights under the Equality Act 2010 — schools must make reasonable adjustments for deaf pupils, whether or not they have an EHC plan.
- Connect your child with other deaf children and young people. The NDCS runs local groups (see the link below), and MK Deaf Zone runs community activities in Milton Keynes.
- Keep learning sign language as a family, even if your child’s school uses an oral approach. BSL supports communication, Deaf identity and belonging.
- BSL Zone has content specifically made for deaf children of school age, including GCSE vocabulary resources.
Other support for families
Parents and Carers Alliance (PACA) is a Milton Keynes group that provides information and support to parents and carers of children with special needs. Membership is free and they run events bringing children and families together.
PACA — Parents and Carers Alliance MK
Phoenix group for Deaf children and Young Adults is a charity working with d/Deaf children, young people and their families, providing services and supporting our members in Hertfordshire and more recently in Bedfordshire too. Children from Milton Keynes are also welcome to attend Phoenix group.
The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) has extensive resources for school-age children and their families, including help with benefit appeals and challenging EHC plan decisions.
Mental health and social wellbeing
Deaf children — especially those who are the only deaf pupil in their school — can experience higher rates of anxiety, loneliness and social isolation. This is not inevitable, but it is worth paying attention to.
Signs to look out for include reluctance to go to school, withdrawal, or increasing frustration around communication. Connecting your child with other deaf children and young people is one of the most effective things you can do.
- The Buzz is the NDCS’s website specifically for deaf children and young people — a space to connect, share experiences and find information.
- The NDCS has mental health resources specifically for deaf children and young people.
- SignHealth provides mental health support in BSL for deaf people of all ages.
The Buzz (NDCS) — for deaf young people
| Approaching 16? Our next guide covers everything for the transition from school to adulthood — college, university, employment, Access to Work and more. |