Schools that have a specialist unit/specialised provision for deaf students: FOI release

Information requested

 A list of all schools in Scotland, primary and secondary, that have a specialist unit/specialised provision for deaf students (might also be called 'hearing impaired'), noting which local authority they are part of.

Response

Under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004, education authorities have duties to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, including those who are deaf. The Scottish Government is clear that children and young people should learn in the environment which best suits their needs, whether that is in a mainstream or special school setting. The legislation on the presumption of mainstreaming has clear exceptions to enable children and young people to learn in a special school or in a specialist unit if that best suits their needs. The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 places a duty on education authorities to provide education in a mainstream school unless specific exceptions apply. The exceptions are:

• The education provided in a mainstream school would not be suitable for the aptitude and abilities of the child in question;
• Would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for the children with whom the child would be educated;
• placing the child in question in a mainstream school would incur unreasonable levels of public expenditure that would not otherwise be incurred. As such, all publicly funded schools in Scotland should provide for deaf children on their school roll – see https://www.gov.scot/publications/school-contact-details/ for a complete list of schools. In addition, we fund Donaldson’s Trust’s education provision for children and young people who have complex additional support needs, including those who are deaf.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.