SEND advice and guidance

Specialist Deaf Curriculum Framework

The Specialist Deaf Curriculum Framework is a national curriculum framework developed by the British Association of Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People (BATOD) in collaboration with the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS). https://www.batod.org.uk/resources-category/specialist-deaf-curriculum-framework/

It consists of seven areas which are known to be important to the deaf and/or hard of hearing child or young person’s awareness and understanding of their deafness. The framework is designed to support children and young people who are deaf and or hard of hearing to develop their knowledge and make informed and independent decisions about their deafness, from identification through to adulthood.

Below is a summary of the different areas of the curriculum.

Please ask your Teacher of the Deaf for further information.

 Curriculum area and summary:

  1. Deaf identity
    • Knowledge of deaf history and culture.
    • Opportunities to meet with other deaf CYP, their families, and deaf adults.
    • Understand different perspectives on deafness.
  2. Communication, language, and literacy
    • Communication and language in education.
    • Communication with others.
    • Technology for communication.
  3. Understand access to sound.
    • Know about personal amplification.
    • Know about other technology for access to sound
    • Engage with audiology services and understand audiological information.
    • Understand aetiology (cause) of deafness.
    • Knowledge of acoustics and the impact on listening.
  4. Social, emotional, physical, and mental health
    • Social health.
    • Emotional and mental health.
    • Physical health.
    • Technology and staying safe.
  5. Manage change
    • Moves and changes in educational settings.
    • Understand their own access needs.
    • Moving to adult NHS services.
  6. Preparation for adulthood
    • Developing independance.
    • Careers and seeking employment.
    • Money management.
    • Independent travel.
    • Preparing for the world of work.
    • Staying Safe.
    • Technology to support independent living, learning, and work.
  7. Specialist assessment and monitoring
    • Assessments.