Who Are We?

The Deaf Education Team supports the needs of children with a deafness in Tameside.

The team provides direct teaching (depending on their level of need), audiological management of equipment, practical advice and strategies to families, schools and other settings about all aspects of reduced functional hearing and its impact on children’s educational, social and emotional development.

We visit children in mainstream and special schools. Younger children are visited in nursery, pre-school and at home.

What is d/Deafness?

Deafness refers to any level of permanent or temporary hearing loss, ranging from mild to profound, affecting one or both ears.

The Team:

• Karen Barton - Interim Head of Service (VI/Deaf Education Team)
• Azra Parveen - Interim Lead Teacher for d/Deaf children (QToD)
• Julie Garner - Teacher for d/Deaf children and Early years lead (QToD)
• Arwel AP Thomas - Teacher for d/Deaf children (QToD)
• Sarah Ross - Teacher for d/Deaf children (QTod)
• Heather Owen - Teacher for d/Deaf children (QToD)
• Vikki Wilde - Admin Manager
• Caroline Naylor – Specialist Support Assistant (SSA)
• Lucinda Birchall – Specialist Support Assistant (SSA)
• Beth Murphy – Specialist Support Assistant (SSA)
• Emma Taylor – Specialist Support Assistant (SSA)
• Jennie Keenan - Specialist Support Assistant (SSA)

Teacher of d/Deaf children (QToD)

A QToD is a qualified teacher with the skills and knowledge required to provide quality teaching to mainstream learners and with the additional mandatory qualification and expertise in teaching D/deaf learners. The mandatory qualifications across the UK equips QToDs to work with D/deaf children and young people from birth to young adulthood.

Specialist support assistant (SSA)

To support the Teachers for d/Deaf children in implementing individual support programmes. This can include the teaching of a range of communication strategies, BSL and specialist equipment to promote inclusion and independence. They make lessons fun and accessible for all students and offer in-class support to students that require this.

Admin Manager

To support the Lead Teacher and Deaf Education Team with all administration duties.