Last Tuesday Clare Allum, parent of student Hugh who attends the Deaf Academy here in Devon, was interviewed on BBC News where she discussed what it’s like for Hugh as a Deaf young person learning from home during the lockdown, and how we are supporting our students virtually.
Clare spoke to reporter Simon McCoy about how Hugh has been accessing his education, and how he feels about staying at home. She said:
“For children like Hugh, who are Deaf and have additional needs, having that community and the ability to communicate both with their peers and with their careworkers is important, otherwise he really is very isolated…
The Academy have put a framework around community – it’s fantastic actually, Hugh looks ecstatic every morning. He has his tutor group, and then at lunchtime he will not miss the common room time, where all of the kids and the young people get together on Zoom and they can see each other, and they can really interact.”
The Online Academy continues to run for the majority of our Academy students, while children of keyworkers and vulnerable students are attending our Spring Camp at our temporary home at WESC, where they are being cared for and educated by a small team of staff.
Thanks to DripMedia for BSL interpretation, and to BBC News for the interview.