Wolverhampton deaf undergraduates experiences

Wolverhampton are hosting a Deaf Learner Open Day on the 2^nd May 2014. 

Below are some positive profiles of deaf learners currently studying there:

Muna Abdillahi Role Model Profile Wolverhampton by Peterborough and District Deaf Children's Society

Joe Weaver 1 Wolverhampton by Peterborough and District Deaf Children's Society

PDDCS members: teaching the University teachers

Students relaxed in their teaching role

Educational research often indicates students make the best teachers and this is quite true when it comes to the deaf awareness sessions delivered by our PDDCS members.
Earlier this month 6 young deaf students went to Cambridge University to deliver a workshop to the PGCE lecturers. The lecturers really enjoyed the fun and interactive session, planned and led solely by the students. Many commented how much it reminded them of the learning experienced daily by students in the classroom.

Hmmm, what hard spellings should I give them?.. she ponders

The PDDCS members have often supported the deaf awareness training delivered to trainee teachers in their school setting. However the confidence boost from the 'Look Smile Chat' national campaign has encouraged the students to move away from the comfort zone of school and also deliver their training sessions in Cambridge University.





Within the one hour workshop the students promote good deaf awareness tactics, increase audiology knowledge and educate the learners so that they can hold a basic conversation in BSL. The learners i.e. the teachers/lecturers question the students about their mainstream learning experiences.  

Oh no, the learners had forgotten there was an extension task. Differentiation is of course key to a successful lesson

Hopefully all these learners will reflect upon their classroom practices to develop further generations of more 'deaf-aware' teachers with deaf-friendly lessons.

Peterborough Deaf teenagers teach at Cambridge University

Over the last few years at Jack Hunt School the deaf students  have been delivering the deaf awareness sessions to the trainee teachers from Cambridge University and the University of East Anglia. Their delivery has often been described as the 'best workshop ever' experienced by the trainee teachers and lead lecturers of education.

The impact of their 'student voice' has been so powerful that the students were invited to Cambridge University to deliver deaf awareness workshops at the 'Adolescence' theme day. Yet again the students excelled in the role. 

As we departed the grounds after the long day of workshops, it brought a smile to the young people's faces to see the University students were still buzzing with their newly acquire sign knowledge and deaf awareness, sharing it with their peers who had attended other workshops.

SeeHear and PDDCS members

The SeeHear staff as featured in
Ted Evan's
'From us to you: We believe'

Earlier this month PDDCS members; Chyanne, Katie, Hayley, Calum and Nikoleta and other Jack Hunt School students were filmed for a BBC 2 SeeHear program. The students were a mixture of ages from 11-18. The filming focused on the students' thoughts and opinions of the recent NDCS 'Look, Smile, Chat' campaign and the impact of this campaign within a mainstream school setting.

It was an amazing opportunity for all the students involved, all of whom got to work closely with two successful deaf role models.

To learn more about the filming tune in to the SeeHear programme due to air late October.

TQ Scoops Top Local Education Award

Teresa Quail receives the trophy and certificate

Prominent PDDCS Committee Member, PDDCS lead blogger and Lead Teacher of the Deaf for Secondary Provision, Teresa Quail has won the award for Best Support for Students for Special Needs at Peterborough Telegraph Education Awards.

This was for Teresa's teriffic work with Students from Jack Hunt School's Hearing Unit which has been nothing short of amazing.

Teresa said "This award is great but I have to pay tribute to my fantastic team who do so much too. I see this as an award for us all. Not to mention the fantastic children who make it all worthwhile"

The award ceremony was Peterborough's Key Theatre and the award was sponsored by Vivacity and the Key Theatre who were unfortunately unable to provide signed support or subtitles for the deaf adults and students who were there to see the awards ceremony. This despite having prior notice.

Teresa also plays a major role within PDDCS. Teresa has secured funding for the Deaf Role Models night, sponsorship for the John Smith Comedy night, enabled the use of Jack Hunt School for events, regularly volunteered and written hundreds of posts for the PDDCS blog which has recently seen it's 50,000th hit. Teresa also coordinated the City's contribution to the world record breaking 'Sign2Sing' effort this year.

From all at PDDCS, well done Teresa and thank you from everyone involved with deaf children in Peterborough. We're lucky you chose us.

Click here for the video of the event from PT (without subtitles) 

See below for more images of the night.

Teresa and other award nominees

Teresa with some of her team, students and parent after the awards

Teresa inspects the certificate outside with a friend

Teresa Quail with the trophy, Pamela Kilbey with her Best Headteacher nominee certificate





Peterborough Deaf Students Awarded

Naima Suge and Ayesha Quraishy who are both deaf and study at Peterborough's Jack Hunt School, were acknowledged an awards evening for their positive work experience placements.


Ayesha received a glowing report from her contributions in her role in Contract and Procurement in Children's Services for Peterborough City Council while Naima Suge's efforts in Caverstede Nursery were not only recognised by the staff but also by the parents of hearing children that attend the nursery.


Well done to Naima and Ayesha! We are proud of you.