Dear Mr Thom

Request for Information Reference 3326: Schools for the Deaf in Wales

I wrote to you on 6 May 2009 following your request for information. In your request you asked:

I am enclosing all of the available information you requested which is outlined below.

There are no specialist schools in Wales catering specifically for profoundly deaf children. Wherever possible, children who are profoundly deaf or hearing impaired either attend mainstream schools with appropriate support or designated hearing impairment resource bases, depending on the nature and severity of their impairment. The Welsh Assembly Government does not collect specific data relating to the number of resource bases, but an informal survey of SEN provision carried out in June 2007 suggests that there are about 25 such bases, most of which are attached to mainstream schools across Wales.

There are 44 special schools in Wales which cater for children and young people with more severe special educational needs. Most will have multiple needs which may include hearing impairment.

The Welsh Assembly Government does not collect data on the number of profoundly deaf children (ie those who are only able to communicate through the medium of sign language). However, the number of pupils with a hearing impairment is collected as part of the annual school census at January each year. In January 2008, the total number of pupils






identified as having a hearing impairment as a primary special educational need was 1,373. Of these, 357 had statements of special educational need as defined by the SEN Code of Practice for Wales 2002.

Any information released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or Environmental Information Regulations 2004 will be listed in the Assembly Government's Disclosure Log (at www.information.wales.gov.uk).

If you believe that I have not followed the relevant laws, please contact me to request a first stage review. If, after that, you are still not satisfied you may request a second stage review by the Assembly Government. When dealing with any concerns, we will follow the Assembly Government's Code of Practice on Complaints which is available on the Internet at www.wales.gov.uk or by post.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner. Normally, however, you should pursue the matter through our internal procedure before you complain to the Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545 745

Fax: 01625 524 510

Email: [email address]

Also, if you think that there has been maladministration in dealing with your request then you may make a complaint to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales who can be contacted at:

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

Ffordd yr Hen Gae

Pencoed

Bridgend

CF35 5LJ

Tel: 0845 601 0987

Yours sincerely



David Tutton
Support for Learners Division