Hidden treasures

TUCKED away in a Chingford cul-de-sac hardly known about, even by residents who live just yards away lies the region's specialist school for deaf children.

The institution has been going for 33 years but staff readily admit that few people know it exists.

So one day last week, the school threw open its doors to welcome the public and show them the serious work that goes on there.

The open day, to mark Deaf Culture Day a nationwide event was designed to raise awareness about the school and the hearing-impaired population.

Visitors were shown how teachers at Hawkswood prepare children for life in the outside world, in an environment where they will be faced with the sort of hurdles in everyday life that most of us can't begin to imagine.

The teachers are all passionate about one thing that the 34 children in their care are no different to any others.

The school's belief is that children who are deaf just have a different first language to hearing people. In their case, their first language is not English, it is British Sign Language.

Fawzia Govender explained: "We are well aware that it's a hearing society out there. But we give the children an education to make them equally comfortable in a hearing environment and a deaf environment.

"We try to bring up our children, develop them socially and emotionally, as they must be able to stand up on their own. That's very important to us."

The pupils are perhaps more boisterous than most. Many of them have learning difficulties in addition to their deafness.

But with around four members of staff per class, they are getting intensive help that could not be provided in a mainstream school.

Children who come to Hawkswood who can be integrated into a mainstream school will be, with visits to Hawkswood to supplement their education.

But for some, going to any other school is not an option.

Deputy head Stuart Booker is adamant that many of his pupils would suffer in any other school environment, and that costs should not be put before their welfare.

But with a current review of special needs provision in Waltham Forest by the local education authority, the threat of possible closure is a real one.

Said Mr Booker: "The whole of the borough is undergoing a review of special needs provision. Per capita, spending on pupils in Waltham Forest is quite high compared to neighbouring outer London boroughs.

"There's every chance they may seek to rationalise provision and close the school.

"That's been hanging over our heads for quite a long time."

But would the children be as happy if they were placed in mainstream schools?

Mr Booker thinks not. He said: "It could be worse for the children as they may be ostracised. Some deaf children are also autistic or have other additional special needs.

"We cater for a vast range of needs, if those children are put in mainstream schools would that continue? Because if not, if it's just done for financial reasons, then putting them in mainstream schools could be disasterous."

It costs the council £15,000 for each pupil at Hawkswood, but Mr Booker said that figure is not unrealistic compared to other specialist schools.

And there is one person there who can vouch for the school's effectiveness first hand.

Olive Lycett, who is deaf, was once a pupil at Hawkswood. Now, having married and had children, she has returned to be their British Sign Language manager.

Head teacher Katy Khan said Mrs Lycett has provided a shining example to the pupils.

Mrs Khan believes that the children have made tremendous progress, despite the continued concerns over the school's future.

In addition to the primary school, the school also has a thriving peripatetic service which supports hearing-impaired pupils in mainstream schools.

The service helps a wide range of pupils ranging from newborn babies who have been diagnosed as being deaf to secondary school pupils.

Mrs Khan said of her charges: "I hope that the young people who have been through Hawkswood will have been given every opportunity to equip them with the tools they need to cope as best they can with everyday life.

"I think it is every young person's right to be given the chance to succeed and develop their potential to its fullest extent.

"It is our duty as educators to do so and I hope that events such as Deaf Culture Day go a considerable way to showing what teamwork, care, loyalty and trust can achieve in the face of so much perceived negativity with regard to our future."