BSL:UPTAKE » Blog Archive » Scoping Study, Part 3 – Professionals: Teachers of Deaf Children ( ToDs)

Scoping Study, Part 3 – Professionals: Teachers of Deaf Children ( ToDs)

There are indications that there are fewer Teachers of Deaf Children (ToDs) in Scotland than there were 4 years ago. This reduced number of ToDs may link to complexities in the developing frameworks of Additional Support for Learning ( ASL) provision. There is some evidence of an increased number of Learning Support Teachers (LSTs) working with deaf pupils, without demonstrable specialist qualifications and experience in linguistic access. Some of these LSTs, despite fulfilling the role of ToD, may fall outwith new regulations regarding ToD qualifications in some mainstream situations, especially in rural areas. It is suggested that there is a need to monitor these developments, with respect to the knowledge, skills and understandings required to meet linguistic needs – particularly in view of the skewed age profile of ToDs and limitations in specialist promotional structures.