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Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Asked by Ian SollomLiberal DemocratDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 18 March 2026UIN 116071

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of Communication Support Workers for deaf (a) school, (b) college and (c) university students.

Answered by Georgia Gould

The department does not hold information or data on the availability of Communication Support Workers, or their qualification levels in British Sign Language.

However, all education and training providers, as well as other related service providers, have duties under the Equality Act 2010 towards individual disabled children and young people. They must make reasonable adjustments, including the provision of auxiliary aids and services for disabled children, to prevent them being put at a substantial disadvantage.

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