To celebrate Deaf Awareness Week (6-12 May), Red Oaks Primary School has introduced new awards for staff and pupils who help deaf pupils feel included and who foster a greater understanding of deafness.
The newly established awards, nominated by deaf pupils themselves, honour both staff and students who go above and beyond to ensure that deaf pupils feel valued and integrated within the school community.
Under the theme of ‘Love and Trust,’ this year Deaf Awareness Week is focussing on everyone contributing towards a fully inclusive society.
At Red Oaks Primary School, British Sign Language (BSL) is being actively encouraged among all students and staff. From singing assemblies to classroom performances, the school has integrated BSL into various aspects of daily school life.
Red Oaks Primary School boasts a dedicated Special Resource Provision, providing vital support for deaf children from Swindon, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire. This provision enables deaf students to seamlessly integrate into their classes and actively participate in school activities.
To celebrate Deaf Awareness Week, the deaf children have been thinking about those hearing staff and friends who make them feel included in their class and school or have helped them with their deafness.
Emily Maxfield, Headteacher of Red Oaks Primary School, expressed pride in the school’s commitment to inclusivity, stating, “ We’re always proud to celebrate Deaf Awareness Week annually because at Red Oaks we spend every day of the school year making sure our deaf children and staff are fully integrated into the fabric of our school life. Our new Deaf Awareness Awards are a wonderful way for our deaf pupils to thank everyone who nurtures the welcoming and inclusive ethos at the heart of our school.”
