I
am writing to you as a parent of a deaf child and representing a
school as parent governor and chair of the parents’ support
group.
My
daughter, Charlotte Keech, is fourteen years old and started at
Birkdale School for Hearing Impaired Children (Southport,
Merseyside) in September 2001.This is a non-maintained school.
She
has a severe hearing loss, which was late to be diagnosed and at
three years of age was still unable to speak at all.Following hearing tests, she was given two hearing aids.
She went to primary school and struggled through with little
academic achievement. Her speech increased but she found it
difficult to mix with her own age group as she was always
‘behind’.Despite
my concerns, she went to secondary school in the mainstream
system.Charlotte
was a premature baby and had various medical problems including
a swallowing difficulty, which lasted for over two years.She nearly died with the constant choking fits and was
hospitalised for many weeks.She was so underweight that at age eleven years and
starting secondary school, she weighed 3 stones 12 ounces!As she wears two hearing aids and was extremely
underweight, she became a prime target for being bullied.This was both physical and mental with taunting and
name-calling, she is very sensitive about her weight. Her morale
sunk to an all time low. Even when she wasn’t actively being
bullied, she was excluded in playground chatter and games
because of hearing problems. She was very unhappy and despite my
pleas, I was told she was ‘fine’ and that she would ‘catch
up’ in all ways and not to worry.
I was so desperate, that in the
end, I took action to ask Sefton LEA to assess her needs, but
this was turned down.I
then applied to go to tribunal.The tribunal said she must have an assessment and it was
shown that her needs were not being met.I was so impressed with Birkdale School FHIC that I
placed Charlotte there at my own costs whilst all the procedures
dragged on for nearly a year.She visibly shook when she started and was very insecure.Quite quickly, she realised she was not alone as a
‘deaf child’ and that she was no longer a target for
bullies.All of the
staff were so caring and treated her as an individual, bringing
out her strengths and supporting the areas, which were weak.
For
the first time ever, she came home thrilled that she had been
chosen for a leading role in Performing Arts.She was so excited. You just cannot pay for
moments like that!She
had schoolwork put up on the wall and was made to feel that she
could contribute something worthwhile.There is no other school like this anywhere, for miles!Every pupil is included in activities,
included with projects, included with work on the walls and
included with any shows or performances, unlike in mainstream
where in actual fact, children with special needs are often excluded.
If
the school closes in July 2003, then my daughter and four others
in her class will be halfway through their two year GCSE
syllabus.There
couldn’t be a worse time for anyone to move schools,
especially if they are hearing impaired.This is the only aural school for deaf children in the
whole of the northwest.Charlotte
will have to go to the other side of the country to Boston Spa
in Yorkshire, a three hour drive away, if she continues at
another aural school for hearing impaired.The other option would be for her to return to the
mainstream environment, which caused her so much distress.I am disabled as a result of an accident.I cannot drive far and would be unable to see her in
school plays or activities.This is heart breaking, not just for us but also for all
of the other children and their parents.
There
used to be a primary part to Birkdale FHIC but a former head
closed it down but all of the facilities are there for it to
reopen.Sir, in the
labour manifesto, Mr. Blair said there was a need for special
schools.If the school was maintained by an LEA or given government
funding to extend to have primary pupils again, I feel sure it
could become a school of excellence for the deaf in the
northwest.I implore you to have this investigated.
Despite
numbers being small at the school what does that matter?One small diamond can be priceless and every pupil, past
and present are such gems.They have hope because being taught at Birkdale School
FHIC gives them the confidence and hope for a future where they
have will have choices.Hopefully,
the choice of a career or profession rather than leaving an
education system elsewhere with little to offer and ending up
with a soulless job which they hate or with little hope of
employment other than menial jobs, such as packing supermarket
shelves. Without the right education, they will be a financial
burden on the state, needing benefits, maybe forever. Please
think of these children as people of the future.Birkdale School gives them a real chance of having a
future, one that gives them self esteem and the opportunity to
fulfil some of their dreams.We want the school to stay open and give these pupils and
future generations the same opportunities to have choices and an
education they need and deserve.
