Return of face masks in schools will ‘fill deaf students with dread’, NDCS says

Secondary schools in England are advised to wear face coverings in communal areas from today, in news which a leading charity warns “will fill deaf students with dread”.

The UK Government is “strongly advising” all students in Year 7 and above, staff and visitors to wear face coverings in the breakout areas, as it rushes to stop the spread of the new omicron variant of coronavirus.

In a message to institutions, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “The news of a new variant – the so-called Omicron variant – will have understandably caused concern for people across our country, including our teachers, wider education and childcare staff, parents, pupils and students.

“We are already taking targeted and proportionate action as a precaution while we find out more information about the new variant.

“As we do so, we will continue to prioritise children’s and young people’s education and wellbeing, making sure education and childcare settings are as safe as possible and children continue to benefit from classroom teaching.”

However, the National Deaf Children’s Society has warned of the “dread” deaf students will feel about the new guidance.

Jo Campion, deputy director at the charity, said: “Whenever face masks are worn, lip reading becomes impossible and this will leave thousands of them struggling to communicate, especially during the important social opportunities school life provides.

“They will also have to live with the possibility that face masks could return to classrooms at any point, a move which could have a devastating effect on their education yet again.

“Public health is the priority, but the law is very clear; schools and colleges must do everything they can to meet the needs of deaf students.”

When approached by The Limping Chicken for comment, a Department for Education spokesperson said: “Our contingency framework is clear about the circumstances in which face coverings may be recommended in classrooms, and the specific exemption for people working with children who rely on lip reading.”

They also went on to quote from the framework, which says that “the use of face coverings may have a particular impact on those who rely on visual signals for communication”.

“Those who communicate with or provide support to those who do, are exempt from any recommendation to wear face coverings in education and childcare settings,” it reads.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.

---

Update – 30/11/2021 – 10:00: In a further statement issued to The Limping Chicken, a Department for Education spokeswoman said: “There are no current plans to reintroduce face coverings in the classroom.”