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: Ian Noon
Nadine Fitzpatrick, Research Manager at the National Deaf Children’s Society has information about a new research tender for NDCS.
This one is looking at the experiences of deaf children and young people, and their families, from black, Asian and other ethnic and culturally diverse groups in the UK.
'A key focus is the experience of accessing specialist services for deaf children. We hope to capture a range of experiences and where necessary, identify if and how these families could/should be better supported when accessing these services. We would also like to document any examples of good practice. We are particularly interested in early years’ experience and the support received post-identification as we know that this period of a child’s language development is critical for later outcomes in life.'
More details about the fund can be found here:
https://www.ndcs.org.uk/blog/applications-open-for-research-funding-experiences-of-deaf-children-and-young-people-and-their-families-from-black-asian-and-other-ethnic-and-culturally-diverse-groups-in-the-uk/
The funding is for up to £60,000 for a project completed by May 2025. The deadline for applications is the end of this November.
Anyone who would like more information before applying should contact Nadine: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Written by: Teresa Quail
The Scottish Sensory Centre has just launched BSL Glossaries: Teaching Resources. https://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/BSL/resources/
The SSC website notes "This is a collection of BSL resources to support teaching and learning, to help highlight and share other resources and avoid duplication of effort.
These links have been provided by the SSC BSL Glossary team and colleagues from across the UK and beyond. If you would like to suggest a resource for inclusion, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it."
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The UCL researchers for this important longitudinal study are seeking participants.
If you know a deaf children who meet the criteria please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The children need to:
- start Reception in the school year 2022/23 (or 2023/24)
- be diagnosed as severely or profoundly deaf before the age of 3yrs regardless of communication modalities
- have lived in the UK for at least the last 6 months
- have no disabilities that would prevent them from completing 30mins of tasks on a computer
If you are able to assist at all with recruitment please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The study, in the Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre, has been approved by the UCL Research Ethics Committee.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Following the publication of the Government's Green Paper SEND review: Right support, Right place, Right time NatSIP has worked with organisations and partners in the sector on a response to the consultation.
We would like to thank all colleagues who have contributed and look forward to working with you as the work develops.
The NatSIP response documents are available for download:
- pdf NatSIP Response to the questions asked in the Green Paper
- pdf NatSIP Supplementary Response to the Green Paper
Will Quince, the Minister of State for School Standards, has recorded a message about the end of the consultation and next steps. To watch the video in full, please visit Twitter: https://twitter.com/willquince/status/1550464956369444864
For more information about the SEND and AP Green Paper please visit the SEND Review website: https://sendreview.campaign.gov.uk/
- Written by: Ian Noon
NDCS has updated their policy briefing on the SEND review. The updated briefing can be found at:
https://www.ndcs.org.uk/media/7653/send-review-2022-ndcs-policy-briefing.pdf
By way of reminder, NDCS also have a guide for parents on responding to the SEND review consultation at:
https://www.ndcs.org.uk/get-involved/campaigning/campaigns-england/the-send-review-in-england/
- Written by: Teresa Quail
The more responses we receive, the better and more influential the findings will be in shaping the future of the Audiology Refreshers.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The Guide Dogs Tech for All initiative is a commitment to make sure children with a vision impairment in the UK have access to an Apple iPad to use outside of school - to support their learning, or just to have fun and explore the activities and interests they enjoy. With excellent assistive technology built-in as standard, such as screen magnification, voiceover and audio descriptions, an iPad can break down barriers and make activities easier, like reading in larger fonts, magnifying photos, and keeping in touch with friends.
In 2022, Guide Dogs have 2,500 iPads available for children and young people aged 3-18 across the UK. The devices are completely free of charge, with the only requirement being proof of vision impairment. Guide Dogs also provide access to extensive digital learning resources to make sure that children can get the most out of their device, and to help ensure that they stay safe online.
Applications are now open at www.guidedogs.org.uk/techforall Stocks are limited so apply early to avoid missing out!
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
It is known that there is a significant variation in how individual children and young people adapt to living with visual impairment and how they view their quality of life, regardless of the level of their visual impairment.
Jugnoo Rahi, Professor of Ophthalmic Epidemiology and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at UCL GOS Institue of Child Health and colleagues, are trying to identify the factors that shape these differences and whether these factors or events could be addressed through family-orientated interventions designed and delivered to improve quality of life.
One of the specific interests is whether they, as the clinical teams, can do anything differently particularly around the time of diagnosis, even if it is just better signposting to resources and services.
The study team at UCL GOS are currently recruiting participants (current and prior patients) through the NHS and also from the general public and they are really keen to hear from a wide variety of children and young people and their families. If this sounds like something of interest and you would like to hear more, please let the team know by calling: 020 7905 2241, or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The study has all necessary HRA and Ethics approvals in place.
- Written by: Teresa Quail
You may be interested in reading the article by Alexandra Adams about her journey to becoming the UK's first deafblind doctor in the latest issue of Enable Magazine.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Over 90 colleagues from across the SI sector joined us online with Microsoft Teams for this NatSIP working day with a single focus on the Government’s green paper in response to the SEND Review. The green paper, and the schools white paper, will have influence on future planning and delivery across all SEND provision, including sensory impairment.
The day included a presentation from André Imich from DfE and contributions of the key points identified by NatSIP partner organisations.
Discussions in the breakout rooms addressed specific questions in the Green Paper consultation. The information captured from these, and earlier sessions, will form part of the NatSIP response.
We are grateful to all who joined in the day and contributed to the discussion.
The presentations from the day are now available in the NatSIP Document Library, and can be found folder here .
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Following recent changes to examination access for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities we are pleased to be able to share with you the April 2022 Updated NatSIP guidance for students with sensory impairments.
Many thanks to colleagues in the sector, especially BATOD and VIEW, for their work on this.
Available document:
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
You may be aware that the Department for Education has been working on the development of a new GCSE in British Sign Language since 2019, with progress having been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the complexity of the subject content. DfE thought you might wish to note the progress of this GCSE – they are currently working closely with Ofqual and subject matter experts to develop the proposed subject content before consulting publicly.
- Written by: Ian Noon
BBC Newsround are now providing BSL interpretation to their weekday bulletins
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/60907249
This was something that deaf young campaigners had long pushed for and NDCS is really pleased with their success.
BBC Newsround have said that they are now working on adding captions to all the video content on their website. We expect an update on this soon.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
An update, published on 1st April 2022, on DfE’s plans for identifying providers of Mandatory Qualifications in Sensory Impairment (MQSIs) from October 2023, follows;
'We are aiming to determine a long-term approach to delivering MQSIs and, through the approval process, want to ensure a robust market of providers in order to train a pipeline of specialist teachers to support children and young people with a sensory impairment. Our intention is to develop a new model which will:
- deliver a high-quality qualification that ensures that students with a sensory impairment receive the support they need from a qualified teacher able to meet their individual needs.
- enable long-term sustainability by ensuring there is a steady stream of sensory impairment teachers.
- raise aspirations for children and young people with VI, HI and MSI.
Furthermore, to ensure qualifications retain their currency and continue to provide sensory impairment teachers with the skills and knowledge needed, successful providers will be expected to work with partners in the sector to ensure their courses reflect any developments and/or technological advancements, and are based on best practice.
Invitation to Tender:
Following a prior information notice published in December 2021, yesterday (31/03) we launched an Invitation to Tender (ITT). The ITT will include the revised specifications and mandatory qualification outcomes, which set the minimum requirement of what a qualification should deliver, that were developed by NatSIP in conjunction with the sector in 2020. In their bids, providers will be required to demonstrate their suitability for developing and delivering the qualifications, including how:
- their course will ensure the specification and mandatory qualification outcomes are achieved.
- they will ensure their courses are high-quality and provide learners with the knowledge and skills needed to improve outcomes for children and young people with a sensory impairment.
- they will recruit learners to ensure a sustainable market and supply of sensory impairment teachers.
The ITT is open to 09/05 and on conclusion approved providers will be expected to enter into a contract with the DfE.
- Written by: Ian Noon
NDCS has published about the SEND review. This sets out the NDCS initial response to the proposals and is aimed at parents of deaf children.
https://www.ndcs.org.uk/blog/new-plans-to-improve-support-for-children-with-send-in-england/
- Written by: Ian Noon
NDCS has updated our note on what government data says about the attainment of deaf children in England in 2021. Due to covid, we only have data for GCSEs this year and there are challenges in making comparisons with previous years. However, we hope the note is still useful.
Key points:
- Attainment 8 score for deaf children is the same as last year. As the figure for all children has gone up, attainment gap has widened slightly. Across England, deaf children still on average achieve a grade less in GCSEs than all children.
- Figures for grade 4 or 5 and above in both English and Maths have both increased. The attainment gap between deaf and all children has narrowed on both these measures
You can also find this and other notes on our website at www.ndcs.org.uk/data.
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