Deaf Resource Base

An Introduction to Knotty Ash Deaf Resource Base

Knotty Ash Primary School is home to Liverpool’s only primary resourced provision for deaf children. Our Deaf Resource Base (DRB) accommodates 18 (moderate-profound) deaf children from Liverpool and neighbouring authorities.

Children are valued members of the school family and fully included in all aspects of school life. Deaf children with age-appropriate levels of language (signed or spoken) access learning within mainstream classes as well as having specialist teaching from teachers of the deaf. Most of our deaf children arrive at Knotty Ash with some level of language delay and often this is severe. Their curriculum is therefore adapted to meet individual needs. The curriculum, the mode of delivery and the teaching and learning strategies are bespoke to each individual child.

The DRB is staffed by qualified teachers of the deaf, a full-time BSL tutor and specialist support staff. We employ deaf and hearing staff and recognise the value of deaf role-models for all our children.

Social inclusion is promoted through BSL lessons for all children (Nursery to Year 6.) These are timetabled weekly and taught by a native BSL tutor. At Knotty Ash, we put inclusion at the heart of everything we do and actively celebrate the uniqueness of all our children. All assemblies, performances and events are signed in BSL (or SSE where necessary.) We hold an annual Deaf Awareness Week with visiting deaf role-models – last year including a dancer, cricketer, chef and poet.

As a ‘Flagship School’ for inclusion, we are always happy to share our practice with other settings. We welcome visits to school and DRB. We also offer deaf awareness workshops and bespoke support.