School's deaf resource unit helps children access full education

July 18, 2026 - 00:04

A retiring teacher from Knotty Ash has shared how the school's Deaf Resource Unit helps children access a full education by focusing on what they can do, not what they cannot. Kathy, who has worked in the unit for many years, explained that the team does not view deafness as a disability. Instead, they treat it as a different way of experiencing the world.

The unit supports students from primary through to secondary age, offering specialist teaching in British Sign Language and spoken English. Kathy said the goal is to give every child the same opportunities as their hearing peers. "We don't see deafness as a disability," she said. "We see it as a difference. These children can do everything other children can do, they just need the right support to access it."

Over the years, the unit has helped dozens of students thrive in mainstream classes. Teachers work closely with audiologists and speech therapists to tailor lessons. Kathy recalled one student who arrived unable to communicate and left with a full set of GCSEs. "That is why I stayed so long," she said. "Seeing them grow, seeing them find their voice."

As she prepares to retire, Kathy hopes the unit's approach will continue. She believes the key is simple: listen to the child, not the label. "If you treat them as capable, they will be capable," she added.