To mark Deaf Awareness Week, Year 4 had a visit from Oak Class at Royal Cross Deaf Primary School on Wednesday 7th May. 9 children from the school’s junior class came to teach Year 4 all about what it means to be deaf, different types of hearing aids or implants, how to get a deaf person’s attention, how day-to-day things may be different for a deaf child and how hearing people can be more accommodating towards deaf people.

The Year 4’s learnt all about the ear and what it means to be deaf earlier in the year, so had some understanding but it was fantastic to build on this knowledge and learn from the real experts. Supported by their teachers, the children taught us lots of BSL sign language, which we rehearsed and recapped on during the children’s 45 minute presentation. The highlight of the afternoon of course was playing outside on the playground equipment, playing football, swing-ball, riding the scooters and making friends. It was magical to see the two sets of children interacting so well, being so supportive of each other and truly making friends.

As the children left, there were lots of sad goodbyes but lots of children from both school saying it was ‘the best day ever!’ We will be seeing the children from Royal Cross again soon as they are coming to visit us again in our final term of Year 4 for a Forest School session which should be something to look forward to!