We are pleased to share the fifth edition of our twice-yearly newsletter. We do enjoy taking a moment to reflect on some of the successes of current and former students, both in school and in their wider lives; and sharing with you some of the activities and services available to you all. As always, we are pleased to see the growing representation of people with hearing loss or visual impairment in the media and on television. We are also particularly pleased this time to share some feedback with you directly from our from your children and young people, following our piece of work on pupil voice.
We hope you enjoy reading our newsletter, and please do let us know if there is anything else you would like to see included.
Debbie Hiom, Manager - Sensory Inclusion Service
What's On?
Beauty and the Beast – Adapted Performance with BSL interpreter
Northwich Memorial Court
Cinderella -
Audio described with BSL interpreter
Storyhouse Chester Sunday 10 December
Cinderella - The Magical Family Panto
Crewe Lyceum have relaxed performances on certain dates. Please let the box office know if you have additional requirements at the time of booking so they can ensure you have a pleasant and enjoyable visit. Click the button below for more information.
Apple stores hold free sessions to teach about the Accessibility features of your Apple devices. You can see when the next available session is by going to their website and searching for Today at Apple – Accessibility.
You can now watch a variety of your favourite films with BSL interpreters using SignUp Captions. There is a huge library of films, including Disney films, that have been interpreted into British Sign Language and American Sign Language that are free to watch from home. All you need to do is to log in to the website, download the extension and you can choose to watch your favourite film free of charge with a BSL interpreter. Whilst the service is only on computers or laptops currently, if you have a SMART television, you can connect the laptop to mirror the screen or connect directly using a HDMI cable. Click the button below to check it out!
Do you know a blind or partially sighted child who would like a letter from Santa?
RNIB is helping to deliver the magic of Christmas by making sure all children with a vision impairment can receive a special festive letter.
Our team of jolly elves work closely with Santa to help him send letters in accessible reading formats – like braille, audio and large print – bringing the joy of Christmas to those who may otherwise miss out.
If you know a child who would like to receive an accessible letter, then please get in touch by clicking on the link below.
The closing date for applications is Friday, 1 December 2023.
Please remember, this service is for blind and partially sighted children only.
We recently ran a VI Social event for some of our older pupils from schools across Cheshire East. We met and joined in with a craft activity, allowing our pupils to meet others with a visual impairment. We are looking to hold more events in the future so please do ask your Specialist Teacher for Visual Impairment if you are interested.
Family Hub Launch Event
Professionals from Cheshire East Council, NHS, community organisations and schools came together on the 11 October to celebrate the opening of the borough’s third family hub which will specialise in services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
All family hubs support children and young people from birth until they reach the age of 19 (or up to 25 for young people with SEND) and bring council, health, and community services together, so that families with children and young people can access the right help and support, at the right time. Family hubs aren’t just about physical buildings – their services will be available in a variety of ways so services can be accessed in the best way to suit families.
To read more about the Family Hub Launch event and what the Family Hub could offer you, click the button below.
We have held two successful events. In May we had our bowling get together and in September we enjoyed a picnic at Brereton with fun and games. Both were well attended by families and provided opportunities for our youngsters with a hearing loss to get together and have some fun!
Our next event will be our Christmas Party. This will be at The Climbing Hut in Ellesmere Port on Sunday 3 December. We will be meeting at 9.30am for a 10 – 12 party. To book your place please contact
If you don’t get invites to these events and would like to be on the mailing list either contact ECDCS using the email address above or visit the website by clicking the button below.
Our Early Years group for children aged 0-5ys and their families is held weekly in term time (Wednesday 1-2.30pm) in the Family Room, New Life Church, Congleton. We have lots of fun playing, creating, singing and making music and often have visitors such as ‘Rhythm Time’ and ‘Bookstart’.
Ask your Teacher of the Deaf for more details.
Celebrations
Lucie Heathcote, who has a profound hearing loss, has once again excelled in her dancing, this time at the CallingUOut Championship Finals 2023 at the Winter Gardens Blackpool.
1st SEN U14's Contemporary Set Solo
1st SEN U14's Acro Set Solo
1st SEN U14's Street Dance
1st U14's Acro Set Duo's
1st Acro Team U16's
2nd Street Team U14's
4th Contemporary Team U16's
Semi Finals U14's Street Duo's - making it to the last 10 out of 50 Duo's.
Congratulations to former student Nat Costigan who has graduated with a first class degree (BSc in Accounting and Financial Management) from Loughborough. Whilst at university he has also been a keen sportsman, competing in Para Triathlon and Para Swimming championships. Good luck to Nat as he starts his first job at SSE in Manchester working in finance and analytics.
Congratulations to Macy who gained good results in her GCSE’s at Middlewich High School. Her exam papers were modified into braille and she supported by her Teaching assistant. She is now studying her favourite subject, Music at Crewe College South and West. Macy was quick to announce, ”Thanks to everyone who helped me…college here I come." Mum was happy to be there on results day and said that she couldn’t thank everyone enough for all their support and getting Macy through high school.
Congratulations to twin sisters Emily and Alex, who both have a visual impairment called Stargardt’s and they studied their A Levels at Crewe College South and West.
Emily got two A*s and an A and is reading Classical Civilisation at Warwick University. Alex got a B and two Cs and is reading English Language at the University of Liverpool.
Congratulations to Sophia Tulejova, Year 8, Ruskin Community High School on receiving the Headteacher’s Silver Award. This is given to students for respect, confidence, behaviour, hard work and promoting the school. For this Sophia helped at the Year 5 and 6 Open Days.
Erin has been making amazing progress with her mobility training. She is exceeding her targets as she learns to use her cane on stairs and out and about where she lives. We are all so proud of her!
Erin recently enjoyed a day of trying new sports with British Blind Sport in Preston. She tried goalball, rock climbing, cricket, made new friends and received a medal for her performance.
New School Starter
Finley started in Reception at Brereton Primary School in September and has settled in amazingly. Well done Finley!
GET IN TOUCH!
Has your child made a fantastic achievement that you would like to celebrate in our next newsletter? If so, get in touch with your child's Specialist Teacher and let us know. We would love to share their achievements!
Our Children and Young People Have Their Say....
‘You don’t need to shout, my hearing aids help me to hear!’
The Sensory Inclusion Service have recently completed a piece of work to gather the voice of some children and young people with visual impairment and / or hearing loss who receive regular support from the service. Pupil voice questionnaires were completed by over 50 children and young people with hearing loss or visual impairment. Feedback was discussed with their specialist teachers and the following key points were highlighted:
What is working well?
All were positive about the support they receive, including help with equipment, information, and telling school staff about their needs. Some reported feeling confident explaining their own needs – ‘The support allows me to access everything that is needed in lessons’ - ‘I can tell my friends what my (cochlear) implant is for’.
How do the equipment and resources you use help?
Laptops, tablets / iPads, magnifiers, long canes, braille note touches, sloping boards, modified resources and radio aids were all cited by children and young people as helping them with their access and independence - ‘My radio aid helps me to hear’, ‘I do have the resources I need…’
How can the Sensory Inclusion Service and school staff help?
This included enlarging their work, reading text out loud, using subtitles when they watch a video, repeating instructions, letting them work in a quiet space, helping with friendships, and playing games with them!
What would you like to change or do better?
Some children and young people said that they do not yet feel fully confident to explain their hearing or vision difficulties, or with saying when they are struggling to access lessons - ‘I feel shy to say’, ‘I would like to find out more about my deafness’. These areas are now a focus for the team, as we explore ways to support children and young people to develop increased confidence around self-advocacy, and their understanding of their own hearing and vision.
Debbie Hiom, Team Manager - Sensory Inclusion Service / Specialist Teacher for Hearing and Visual impairment
Inclusion and Representation
This year's "Great British Bake Off" on Channel 4 has seen contestant, Tasha Stones, who is the first ever Deaf contestant. Tasha, 27, wears a cochlear implant and is accompanied by a British Sign Language interpreter to ensure she has full access to communication throughout the competition.
"Race Across the World" was on again this Spring on BBC One. In it we saw Tricia and her childhood friend, Cathie, completing and winning the competition. Tricia has uveitis which is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye which can cause vision problems and pain linked to sensitivity to light. Tricia has met with the RNIB to discuss her experience on the show and what it is like to travel with a visual impairment. You can read the whole interview by clicking the button below.
This show is touring the country and is a brand new theatrical performance explaining the highs and lows of being a young person in 2023. The voice and views of young people often go unheard however with this new refreshing show the lives of young disabled people are shared in a fun, exciting and thought-provoking way.
Aimed at young people aged 14 and over, the experience has creative captioning along with BSL and audio description fully integrated.
For more information on the show and the tour dates click the button below.
Pupils supported by Cheshire East Sensory Inclusion Service recently took part in an episode of See Hear on the BBC to promote the use of British Sign Language (BSL) across the nation. This was linked to projects funded by Children in Need.
The programme featured Isobel and her family who have been learning BSL through Deafness Support Network’s "I’m Hear" sessions. Isobel talks about her deafness and the way in which BSL is helping her to become more confident.
The programme also featured Deafness Support Network’s Youth Vibe group in Chester. Immy a pupil at Wilmslow High School’s Hearing-Impaired Resource Provision attends the group to meet other D/deaf young people. She talks about the activities on offer and welcomes the opportunity to learn and try out more BSL with her friends.
Find the episode of See Hear on BBC iPlayer – Series 43, Series 8.
A collection of links and organisations which we have put together and which we hope will be helpful for you, including all the major national charities who offer specialist support, advice, services, and opportunities. Click the link below to access the information.
The Cheshire East Parent Carer Forum which is led by parents for parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with additional support needs and disabilities in Cheshire East.
Cheshire East Social Care Visual Impairment Service provide assessments and support for visually impaired adults, children and young people across Cheshire East.
The Society operates a resource centre in Macclesfield (Mon to Fri 9.00am -1.30pm) offering advice, support and a selection of daily living aids and specialised living equipment. These include talking clocks, watches, microwave ovens, bathroom and kitchen scales, a range of magnifiers including specialised electronic magnifiers and computer software. Social groups are run in Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Congleton and Poynton.
A working group representing all services involved with children and young people with hearing impairment, including parents. We welcome parents and young people at our meetings. For more information, please contact your Teacher of the Deaf or email sensoryinclusionservice@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Hearing Impairment
The local branch of the NDCS who organise social activities for Deaf young people and their families. They also raise funds and support families. They are a group run by parents and volunteers, and always welcome new members. Please speak to your Teacher of the Deaf if you would like to find out more!
Deafness Support Network (DSN) provides information, advice and practical support including ‘drop-in' services and access to technical equipment e.g., amplification aids. They also run a youth club, Youth Vibe, for young people between the ages of 8 and 19.
The Cheshire CHSWG (Children’s Hearing Service Working Group) is a group representing all services involved with children and young people with hearing impairment, including parents. We welcome parents and young people at our meetings. For more information, please contact your Teacher of the Deaf or email sensoryinclusionservice@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Many schools now have a team of Safeguarding Officers or Ambassadors. These important children and young people work closely with the schools’ Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to help others if they are feeling sad or unsafe. They organise Children’s Mental Health Weeks, activities and assemblies. They help to explain what mental health means. ‘Daisy’s Dragon’ is a recommended book about feelings. Please talk to your child’s school if you are worried about anything. More information to keep all children and young people ‘Safe and Happy’ can be found at;
