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News Wales > Education > Kids sign up for deaf friend
Children at a Milford Haven school have been taught sign language so they can communicate with one of their friends.
Seven-year-old Ryan Hounsome, a pupil of The Mead Infants School, has been totally deaf from birth and was himself taught to sign from the age of two.
For the past five years, teachers and pupils have been learning sign language to help Ryan in his day-to-day schooling.
Over a 12-month period every staff member at the school attended a lunchtime signing course provided by Pembrokeshire County Council's Advisory teacher for Hearing Impaired Children, Sue James.
During that time the staff gained a grounding in basic signing and six of them completed the more advanced British Sign Language (BSL) Stage 1 course at the Pembrokeshire College.
Six parents also attended the basic signing class and two of them have also achieved BSL Stage 1 status.
Meanwhile various groups of children from the Nursery class to Class 1 also learnt sign language, some of them in weekly classes.
And on Tuesday the proud pupils were presented with Certificates of Achievement by the County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Islwyn Howells.
Said Ryan's mum, Kate Hounsome from Vaynor Road, Milford Haven:This is just great for Ryan. Everyone at the school has been fantastic.
Before, the children would shout at him thinking he might be able to hear them. Now they know to tap him on the shoulder and use sign language. Itâs made such a difference.
Councillor Howells said it had been a marvellous achievement for everyone connected with the school. Ryan can now relate to all his friends and they to him he added.
Now Sue James plans to extend the classes to Ryan's next school, Milford Haven Juniors. In readiness of him joining, staff and pupils there are to beginning basic signing training in September.
Children at a Milford Haven school have been taught sign language so they can communicate with one of their friends.
Seven-year-old Ryan Hounsome, a pupil of The Mead Infants School, has been totally deaf from birth and was himself taught to sign from the age of two.
For the past five years, teachers and pupils have been learning sign language to help Ryan in his day-to-day schooling.
Over a 12-month period every staff member at the school attended a lunchtime signing course provided by Pembrokeshire County Council's Advisory teacher for Hearing Impaired Children, Sue James.
During that time the staff gained a grounding in basic signing and six of them completed the more advanced British Sign Language (BSL) Stage 1 course at the Pembrokeshire College.
Six parents also attended the basic signing class and two of them have also achieved BSL Stage 1 status.
Meanwhile various groups of children from the Nursery class to Class 1 also learnt sign language, some of them in weekly classes.
And on Tuesday the proud pupils were presented with Certificates of Achievement by the County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Islwyn Howells.
Said Ryan's mum, Kate Hounsome from Vaynor Road, Milford Haven:This is just great for Ryan. Everyone at the school has been fantastic.
Before, the children would shout at him thinking he might be able to hear them. Now they know to tap him on the shoulder and use sign language. Itâs made such a difference.
Councillor Howells said it had been a marvellous achievement for everyone connected with the school. Ryan can now relate to all his friends and they to him he added.
Now Sue James plans to extend the classes to Ryan's next school, Milford Haven Juniors. In readiness of him joining, staff and pupils there are to beginning basic signing training in September.
