The Primary Department caters for the needs of deaf children aged from 3 to 11 years of age. Classes are taught by experienced, qualified teachers of the deaf and supported by learning support assistants. The high staffing ratio allows for children to be taught individually, in small groups, class groups and combined class groups. This means that they are given the time and support they need to develop their delayed language and a motivation to learn curriculum at their particular learning level. Subjects such as drama, music and P.E. are taught by specialist teachers. The children have direct input from Speech and Language Therapists for three sessions a week individually or within a small group.

Many of our children have been unable to maintain the pace of their hearing peers and have not been able to access the linguistic environment, which is at a level far in excess of their own. St John’s caters particularly well for the needs of such children by providing acoustically treated rooms, state of the art amplification systems, on site audiologist and technician, an excellent linguistic approach and a differentiated curriculum.

Each child is encouraged to develop and use natural spoken and written language through the use of the Maternal Reflective Method.

We provide a broad and balanced curriculum, which meets the criteria of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum, as well as the needs of deaf children. There is the flexibility to support and reinforce the linguistic needs of the children in all curriculum areas, and it is recognised that the acquisition and development of speech and language pervades all interactions with the children.

Celebration of achievement is an important part of building self-confidence and feeling of self worth. Children’s work, achievements, effort and qualities are recognised formally in assemblies and whole school presentations. We aim to provide excellence and enjoyment throughout the Primary phase by providing regular enriching experiences such as weekly horse riding, opportunities to meet children in other schools, sporting events, educational outings, fund raising events, technology events, drama productions and musical experiences.

The Primary Department has a purpose built playground, which is accessed by a secure door, and perimeter fencing to provide a safe play area for young children. Older children have the benefit of a large playing field, which is adjacent to the playground. Both areas are closely supervised at playtime by school staff.

Primary children eat lunch in the school dining room where selection of hot or cold food is served each day. Staff are on hand to help children make healthy choices and to encourage conversation and good social skills.

Home-school links are facilitated through the use of daily home-school books for younger children and the school planner for key stage 2. Parents are invited to Parents’ Evenings, Saturday workshops and Annual Reviews. On a more informal basis, parents can contact school to arrange to speak to staff as and when the need arises. Regular communication between home and school is encouraged


Early Years Foundation Stage

Within the Primary Department we acknowledge that children’s experiences and relationships in their early years have a profound effect on their later academic, social and emotional development. For a young deaf child, skilled input is needed in order to develop speech, language and communication skills. We believe it is particularly important to provide a rich and appropriate environment in which each child is given the requisite guidance, assistance and support for growth in all areas of development. Opportunities for learning are constantly seized to ensure that our very young pupils progress through their subsequent years competently and confidently.

St. John’s offers part time provision to children in the academic year in which they are three years old and full time provision at the beginning of the year in which they are four. For children who need time to adjust to the routines and demands of a school week, their introduction to full time education can be flexible. Some children successfully complete their early years foundation stage and then move onto mainstream education with support from their education authority.

Within the Early years Foundation Stage we aim to;

• introduce the children to school life in an enjoyable and positive way;
• make listening and language learning an integral part of each child’s experiences and action throughout the school day
• lay foundations which can be built upon when the children are required to follow the National Curriculum programmes of study.
• foster each child’s appreciation of his/her own self worth and the value of others.
• provide direct input from our team of Speech and Language Therapists who have experience with working with the eaf and who work in close partnership with parents and school staff.
• provide direct teaching from qualified and experienced teachers of the deaf.
• ensure a high staffing ratio of teachers and learning support assistants which allows adult /child interaction to take place on an individual paired or small group basis within small classes.
• provide an optimum listening environment to maximise the use of cochlear implants, hearing aids and the group aid all of which are supported by a qualified and experienced audiologist and a technician.
• to ensure that the curriculum allows opportunity for the six areas of learning, as outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage
• to provide a rich and stimulating language environment where experienced staff can seize opportunities to make language meaningful and alive.