Communication support service

The centre is based at Kingsley Primary School.

What is the Primary Hearing Centre?

The Primary Hearing Centre is part of Croydon's Communication Support Service (CSS) which incorporates hearing, vision, speech and language services.

The centre is based in Kingsley School and caters for hearing impaired children of nursery and primary school age. Children attending the centre receive a level of small group and individual specialist teaching and communication support that is greater than would be possible in their local mainstream school.

How does the centre work?

As members of the mainstream school, pupils play a full part in school life. They work in their mainstream classes whenever possible, with specialist support.

For part of each day the children are taught in the centre's classrooms for individual or small group work.

Specialist teachers of the deaf and support staff help the children to access the national curriculum and develop speaking and listening skills, with sign-supported English as necessary.

What does the centre provide?

access to the national curriculum through supported mainstream teaching
individual or small group-differentiated teaching
sign language support for children who require it
audiological equipment, support and close liaison with audiology clinics
skill and experience in the management of children with cochlear implants
close links with parents and support groups
specialist programmes to develop the pupils' listening skills and emotional literacy.

How are children referred to the centre?

If the impact of a child's deafness is such that they are unable to communicate with hearing peers and adults on entering nursery or school, families are invited to consider placement at the Centre. The pre-school teacher of the deaf and the teacher in charge of the Centre guide families through this process and encourage them to visit a range of provisions before making their choice. The potential benefits of sign supported teaching for some deaf children is also a key consideration. Longer term placement at the Centre will involve referral for statutory assessment.

Who brings the children to the centre?

Parents are encouraged to transport their children to and from school where possible. The LA Transport Policy sets out arrangements that can be made to help families living at a distance. The policy is available on request from the centre or the local authority's SEN department.

The service staff work within the child safeguarding procedures of the local authority.