Although there are a number of special units for children with severe hearing impairment, speech or language difficulties, most children in Suffolk attend their local mainstream school.
Speech and Language Units (SLUs)
There are three speech and language units in Suffolk:
- Elm Tree Primary School (Lowestoft)
- Rushmere Hall Primary School (Ipswich)
- Hardwick Primary School (Bury St Edmunds)
The speech and language units provide for children within Foundation Year and Key Stage 1. Children with places in these units are supported and taught by a specialist teacher and by a specialist speech and language therapist.
The majority of children with moderate to mild speech and language difficulties will attend their local mainstream school, however, if a language unit is felt to be the best option for a child, the decision to offer a place is made in the local area education office, in discussion and agreement with parents.
Hearing Impaired Units (HIUs)
There are four hearing impaired units in Suffolk:
- Elm Tree Primary School (Lowestoft)
- Rushmere Hall Primary School (Ipswich)
- Westgate Primary School (Bury St Edmunds)
- Westley Middle School (Bury St Edmunds)
Children in these units are supported by a qualified teacher of the deaf and by trained support assistants and signing communicators as necessary. Signing communicators also support pupils with HI who attend mainstream schools, if this is required.
There is currently a review of how we best meet the needs of secondary-aged hearing impaired pupils who have been in primary hearing impaired units.
