Welcome to the NatSIP Website
This website offers access to a wealth of SI resources, most of which are now freely available. We encourage you to register on the site for full access to everything we have to offer. Registration is free, and open to anyone. A walkthrough/howto on the registration process is here.
- Written by: Paul Simpson
- Written by: Ian Noon
NDCS have developed an addition to their portfolio of online events for families whose child has had a recent diagnosis.
Those country specific events called “Supporting Parents New to Hearing Loss – online event” are now available to book onto here:
https://www.ndcs.org.uk/our-services/our-events/online-events/supporting-parents-new-to-hearing-loss-online-event/
The session will introduce NDCS, support available at the moment to families, a video from a parent of a deaf child sharing their top tips on what to do when your child is first diagnosed and a chance to break out in small groups and chat to each other and one of our CFSO’s. It will last for an hour.
Marcella will be organising bookings for these and can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The Summer Term 2020 Edition of the NatSIP Newsletter is now available for download.
This is without doubt a difficult time for everyone. We hope that you are all keeping well and that the Easter break has given you time for relaxation and reflection. We are aware that some of your own families and those you support professionally have been affected by the pandemic and we offer our sincerest condolences to those who have lost loved ones.
Within the amazing Sensory Impairment sector we know that services, schools and associated organisations are supporting children, families and other professionals in a variety of ways during this time of adaptation to the coronavirus and we have been closely monitoring the different SI forums for information and advice on what is working within the sector and what problems you are facing. We are also working across the partnership to ensure that any published or updated national guidance we find and can be useful to you is shared. The proactive use of the SI community email forums in sharing ideas and practical examples has been really welcomed and rewarding. It is a privilege to be a member of such a sector.
In the newsletter. we have compiled here a quick NatSIP review of some of the issues you have been raising and the most useful guidance and resources that have been issued to date and circulated so that you can have these in one place.
The newsletter as emailed out had two attachements. The newsletter and both attachments are available to download:
- The pdf Summer Term 2020 Newsletter
- Jaine Hollis-Watson (a QTVI at Fairview School, Perth) has as put together a pdf list of links to resources for VI children and young people .
- Epsom and St Helier University Hospital NHS Trust have produced a booklet pdf Helpful Information about Hearing Aids .
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The Deaf Health Charity, SignHealth and online interpreting company InterpreterNow, have together launched ‘BSLHealthAccess’ which enables the provision of immediate, on demand access to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters for communication with Deaf people in health settings free of charge during the current Coronavirus situation.
On Demand Remote BSL Interpreting Service www.BSLHealthAccess.co.uk Launches For UK’s Deaf Community
BSL VERSION PRESS RELEASE https://vimeo.com/408089137
- Written by: Stuart Whyte
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The Children's Comissioner for for England, Anne Longfield, has released a chilren's guide to coronavirus.
In her press release, she writes:
We know many children will be anxious or worried about the coronavirus outbreak and that many will have questions about everything that is happening at the moment.
We have put together a short guide to help explain to children, in language they can understand, some of the issues surrounding coronavirus.
Thousands of people have downloaded the guide already or shared it on social media - so please do share with parents or groups you know if you find it useful.
We have also created a page full of advice, information, suggestions and resources for parents, educators and other professionals who work with children, to help during the pandemic.
Available documents from the Children's Comissioner Website (https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/)
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The Whole School SEND central team are pleased to announce that the videos produced in collaboration with colleagues in VICTAR, Birmingham VI Support Team and Priestley Smith School are now available to view here: https://www.sendgateway.org.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
During this time of crisis, The Elizabeth Foundation has decided to waive all fees for the use of their online programme called ‘Let’s Listen and Talk’ so that more families can benefit from the advice, guidance and information that is offered through the programme. This means that free resources are available to support deaf children (0-5 years) to learn to listen and talk. Along with information, the programme provides hundreds of useful games and activities that support listening and talking.
Please go to www.letslistenandtalk.org for more information and to sign up.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Artist and illustrator Manuela Molina has produced a 12 page easy-read PDF booklet that may help start a good shared conversation with a child about COVID-19, and may help reduce their anxieties.
She writes:
Dear families and educator all over the world,
I have created this short book to support and reassure our children, under the age of 7, regarding the COVID-19. This book is an invitation for families to discuss the full range of emotions arising from the current situation. It is important to point out that this resource does not seek to be a source of scientific information, but rather a tool based on fantasy. My recommendation is to print this material so children can draw on it. Remember that emotions are processed through repetitive play and stories read multiple times. Share COVIBOOK and help ease kiddo's anxiety all over the world.
With love,
Manuela Molina - the author
The PDF in English can be downloaded from her website here.
It is also available in the following langiages: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Polish, Hebrew, Indonesian, German, Turkish, Russian, Egyptian Arabic, Arabic, Romanian, Hungarian, Greek, Danish, Serbian, Welsh, Croatian and Japansese here
Our thanks go to Di Caesar (Gloucestershire) for drawing this to the attention of the HoSS Forum.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
| Date: |
was Monday 30 March 2020 - postponed due to the developing situation with coronavirus |
| Time: | 10:00 - 16:00 |
| Venue: |
Hamilton House |
Unfortunately we have had to postpone the event on 30th March due to the developing situation with coronavirus.
At a future date we will look forward to colleagues from across the SI sector joining us for a new-format working day where we will discuss the early findings of the government’s SEND Review, in response to the Select Committee’s report on SEND. The SEND review will have influence on future planning and delivery across all SEND provision.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
An easy read guide on the Coronavirus for young children and those with learning difficulties can be found through this link:
http://easyread.info/coronavirus-easy-read/
- Written by: Paul Simpson
The 2019 CRIDE (Consortium for Research in Deaf Education) report for England has now been published and can be seen here on the BATOD website: https://www.batod.org.uk/information/cride-reports/
- Written by: Ian Noon
NDCS has published a literature review and summaries of survey responses on temporary hearing loss. Both documents can also be found online at www.ndcs.org.uk/research.
The aim of this work was to improve understanding at the National Deaf Children’s Society on the experiences of families of children with temporary hearing loss.
NDCS are very grateful to all those who took the time to respond to the survey last year and share their views. They hope they find the reports interesting and useful.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The latest results of a Longitudinal Transition Study for young people with a vision impairment entering employment have been published by the Vision Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR) at the University of Birmingham and Thomas Pocklington Trust – https://www.visionuk.org.uk/
- Written by: Stuart Whyte
Secure battery compartment requirement:
The new National Patient Safety Alert ‘Risk of harm to babies and children from coin/button batteries in hearing aids and other hearing devices’ can be accessed via the following link https://improvement.nhs.uk/news-alerts/risk-of-harm-to-babies-and-children-from-coin-button-batteries-in-hearing-aids/
The main addition is:
Actions to be completed by 11/09/2020
1. Review audiology team guidance/protocols to ensure:
a. for babies and children aged under five years; all hearing aids and other hearing devices, including temporary replacements or those previously issued, have secure battery compartments
b. for older children and adults; consideration of the need for secure battery compartments for:
i. those living with babies or children aged under five years
ii. those with additional risk factors* or living with someone with additional risk factors.*
It is not just for unders 3s: consideration is now given to 3- and 4-year olds and older children and adults those with complex needs, cognitive impairment etc and those at risk in the child’s setting. (See * notes in the new NatSPA).
This has an implciation for radio aids: when fitting ear-level radio aid receiers as a locking mechanism will be required.
Colleagues may be interested in the below briefing paper from the National Deaf Children’s Society on radio aid usage with children under 36 months. The paper sets out their position on the safe and effective use of radio aids, and offers guidance to mitigate against safety hazards.
https://improvement.nhs.uk/documents/6232/NatPSA_hearing_aid_batteries_December_2019_FINAL.pdf
https://www.ndcs.org.uk/media/3636/briefing_radio_aid_usage_children_under_36months_2018.pdf
- Written by: Ian Noon
NDCS has just published a literature review on careers advice and support available to disabled young people.
https://www.ndcs.org.uk/media/5268/careers_advice_and_support_ndcs_literature_review_2019.pdf
This literature review has been done in-house by NDCS research officers. It also includes a discussion around potential gaps in research around deaf young people.
They carried out this literature review to inform a new campaign on careers advice for deaf young people which will be launching next spring. The campaign will be called Deaf Works Everywhere – please watch this space!
On a related note, one important piece of research that NDCS has already commissioned is the READY study, an exciting and ambitious longitudinal study to track the paths taken by deaf young people as they move into adulthood. The researchers are looking for deaf young people in England, Scotland and Wales to participate. Any help that colleagues can offer in encouraging deaf young people to get involved would be hugely appreciated. More information can be found at: https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/thereadystudy/
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