What is the SBI SRP?
It is a Special Resource Provision (SRP) run in partnership with Swindon Borough Council for severely and profoundly deaf children who require specialist sign support to access learning, and who without such provision would be unable to access an age appropriate mainstream curriculum. It is a fully integrated provision and pupils spend the majority or all of their time supported in mainstream classes. Both English and British Sign Language are respected as languages for learning and communication. Sign bilingualism means having and using two languages in everyday life, one of which is a sign language. Some children in the provision have BSL as their first language. Other children are moving towards having spoken English as their preferred means of communication but require a high level of sign support and Teacher of the Deaf access to achieve this. Children have access to sign language support throughout the school day, including at break and lunch times.

What age range is covered?
The provision caters for children aged 4-11 (Reception to year 6). The school has a mainstream nursery for children aged 3-4. Deaf children who meet the normal entry criteria for the SRP may be considered for a place in the nursery, subject to available funding.

What are the access criteria?

• Children must be severely or profoundly deaf, and have this as their primary special educational need
• They will have a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and Care Plan
• At the time of entry to the provision, children will:
  • Show a significant delay in spoken English such that they would be unable to access an age appropriate mainstream curriculum delivered through spoken English alone
  • Either have (or be expected to have) BSL as their primary language for communication and learning; or
  • Require specialist sign support and Teacher of the Deaf access over and above what could reasonably be delivered outside of an SRP
  • Be supported by a range of current assessment evidence indicating no additional learning needs that will (or are likely to) result in the child being unable to access an age appropriate mainstream curriculum in a fully integrated setting.
• Be placed after full consultation with the child’s parents
• Be placed after consultation with the SRP manager, Head Teacher and Senior Advisory Teacher of the Deaf
• Be considered for admission by Swindon Local Authority via the accepted channels of referral through the Special Educational Needs Resourcing and Assessment Panel (SENRAP)

What is the admissions process?
Admission to the provision is through SENRAP, subject to there being available spaces in the provision.

How is the provision funded?
The provision is funded in full by the Local Authority.