Schools, in conjunction with the visiting teacher, should identify children with mild hearing loss who require access to additional learning support. They should ensure that children receive such support within the school's current allocation.
Pupils with mild hearing loss should be specifically mentioned in the list of pupils with learning difficulties for whom schools are provided with additional teaching resources under the general allocation model (DES Circular Sp Ed 02/05, Section 3.1).
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Approximately 3,760 teaching posts have been allocated to primary schools under the General Allocation Model (GAM) at an estimated annual cost of €225 million per annum (Source: DES, 2011). Children in mainstream schools, with mild/unilateral hearing loss, who require additional support, should be included under existing schemes, without incurring additional costs to the State.
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4.2.6
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Additional teaching support for deafness as a low incidence disability in mainstream schools should be allocated in accordance with the:
level of the pupil's learning need
level of the pupil's functioning in the classroom
current DES policy parameters
The level of support granted should be reviewed on an annual basis.
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If the level of a pupil's functioning in the classroom has improved, it may be possible to reduce the amount of support required by the pupil, from the current level of four hours. The implementation of a review mechanism could result in a saving to the Exchequer.
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