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http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/deaf-blind-teaching-centre-faces-axe-as-funding-is-cut-1.1087386
SCOTLAND’S only centre dedicated to training professionals for the education of deaf and blind children faces closure after being told its funding will be cut at the end of next month.
The Scottish Sensory Centre, based at Edinburgh University, provides specialist continuing professional development to teachers of young people with sensory impairments.
Financing for the centre, which is wholly funded by the Scottish Government, will be cut from March 31, putting at risk nine jobs, including lecturers and support staff.
The university has agreed to step in after that date and fund the centre until June to allow staff to complete a number of courses. But beyond June, and with no funding available, the centre seems certain to close.
Jan Savage, director of the National Deaf Children’s Society in Scotland, said the closure would be a “severe blow” for every deaf child in Scotland.
The centre is where teaching professionals go for continuing professional development and when it closes teachers will have to get those qualifications at a local level.
That removes the national quality assessment that comes from the centre and it is feared could ultimately have an impact on the quality of teaching.”
She added: “This is a very small group of people with specific learning needs and there are questions that the Scottish Government must answer about whether a proper equality impact assessment has taken place.
“Cutting the funding is a desperate message to parents of deaf children in Scotland at a time when access to specialist teachers and communication support is being reduced in schools throughout the country.We’re concerned at the apparent lack of consultation on the decision and the absence of a clear strategy on future training for teachers working with deaf, visually impaired and deaf-blind children.
“We would be delighted to be involved in any dialogue with the Scottish Government over the future of the centre.”
Lilian Lawson, director of the Scottish Council on Deafness, said she was upset and shocked by the decision.
“The staff there have years of experience in the areas of deafness, deaf-blindness and blindness and the loss of their knowledge and expertise would have a huge detrimental impact on the quality of education services for deaf and blind children.
“Where in Scotland will those professionals, parents, carers and families go for a similar service? It will be a sad day to see the Scottish Sensory Centre close.”
Labour MSP Cathie Craigie, convener of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on deafness, called on the Government to make its future plans clear for the training of specialist teachers of deaf and blind children.
Ms Craigie said: “I have lodged questions about this in parliament demanding answers to this disgraceful course of action, and have urged fellow parliamentarians to condemn the decision.”
The Scottish Government blamed public spending cuts for the decision.
A spokeswoman said: “Ministers recognise the valuable contribution the Scottish Sensory Centre has made over a large number of years to enhancing learning provision for children and young people with sensory impairments.
“The centre does not provide direct support to children and young people and unfortunately the reductions in the Scottish budget have meant that ministers have to make some very challenging decisions.”
The Government is providing £10.5 million to grant aided special schools and has launched a review of learning provision for children and young people with additional needs, which is due to report in spring 2012.”
SCOTLAND’S only centre dedicated to training professionals for the education of deaf and blind children faces closure after being told its funding will be cut at the end of next month.
The Scottish Sensory Centre, based at Edinburgh University, provides specialist continuing professional development to teachers of young people with sensory impairments.
Financing for the centre, which is wholly funded by the Scottish Government, will be cut from March 31, putting at risk nine jobs, including lecturers and support staff.
The university has agreed to step in after that date and fund the centre until June to allow staff to complete a number of courses. But beyond June, and with no funding available, the centre seems certain to close.
Jan Savage, director of the National Deaf Children’s Society in Scotland, said the closure would be a “severe blow” for every deaf child in Scotland.
The centre is where teaching professionals go for continuing professional development and when it closes teachers will have to get those qualifications at a local level.
That removes the national quality assessment that comes from the centre and it is feared could ultimately have an impact on the quality of teaching.”
She added: “This is a very small group of people with specific learning needs and there are questions that the Scottish Government must answer about whether a proper equality impact assessment has taken place.
“Cutting the funding is a desperate message to parents of deaf children in Scotland at a time when access to specialist teachers and communication support is being reduced in schools throughout the country.We’re concerned at the apparent lack of consultation on the decision and the absence of a clear strategy on future training for teachers working with deaf, visually impaired and deaf-blind children.
“We would be delighted to be involved in any dialogue with the Scottish Government over the future of the centre.”
Lilian Lawson, director of the Scottish Council on Deafness, said she was upset and shocked by the decision.
“The staff there have years of experience in the areas of deafness, deaf-blindness and blindness and the loss of their knowledge and expertise would have a huge detrimental impact on the quality of education services for deaf and blind children.
“Where in Scotland will those professionals, parents, carers and families go for a similar service? It will be a sad day to see the Scottish Sensory Centre close.”
Labour MSP Cathie Craigie, convener of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on deafness, called on the Government to make its future plans clear for the training of specialist teachers of deaf and blind children.
Ms Craigie said: “I have lodged questions about this in parliament demanding answers to this disgraceful course of action, and have urged fellow parliamentarians to condemn the decision.”
The Scottish Government blamed public spending cuts for the decision.
A spokeswoman said: “Ministers recognise the valuable contribution the Scottish Sensory Centre has made over a large number of years to enhancing learning provision for children and young people with sensory impairments.
“The centre does not provide direct support to children and young people and unfortunately the reductions in the Scottish budget have meant that ministers have to make some very challenging decisions.”
The Government is providing £10.5 million to grant aided special schools and has launched a review of learning provision for children and young people with additional needs, which is due to report in spring 2012.”