Heston Community School is home to a Centre for the Deaf.

The School caters for the needs of children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, using cochlear implants or hearing aids, from the age of 11 to 19. Students are assisted in accessing the curriculum in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 and are encouraged to participate in School activities along with their hearing peers.

Communication

The Centre uses a Total communication approach, meaning that all of our Centre staff are proficient British Sign Language (BSL) users and are able to communicate with students in their preferred mode.

Students have access to two Speech and Language Therapists who visit the school every week. Students have the opportunity to improve their preferred form of communication with targeted intervention.

Staff and Facilities

With three Teachers of the Deaf (ToDs) and four, signing, Support Teachers, the Centre has a wealth of experience working with children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Our students consistently achieve their target grades at GCSE and go on to study courses of their choice.

Our Centre is acoustically treated to reduce noise reverberation, ensuring that students have the best opportunities to use their residual hearing, and students are provided with Radio Aid technology to ensure they are able to get the best out of the class teacher instruction.

KS3

• Focus on Numeracy and Literacy
• Prep for subject choices
• Speech and language therapy
• Targeted intervention

KS4 & KS5

• Focus on careers
• Regular wellbeing meetings
• Work experience
• Targeted intervention