The National Deaf Children’s Society today reported Wiltshire Council to the Information Commissioner for failing to reveal how much money is available to fund education services for deaf children.

Despite two warnings, Wiltshire Council has broken the law by failing to comply with a Freedom of Information request to reveal its budget, said the society.

An investigation by the society shows that, in the last five years, local councils in England have cut the money available to fund essential services for deaf children, such as through the Teachers of the Deaf professional association.

The latest figures from the Government show nearly two thirds of deaf children (64%) are failing to achieve five good GCSEs and the attainment gap between deaf children and their hearing peers has widened since 2013.

There are fears that, as local budgets continue to be squeezed, deaf children could be further affected.

Jo Campion, deputy director of policy and campaigns at the society said: “The lack response shows a disregard for deaf children and a lack of understanding of the importance of these services.

“Deaf children can achieve the same as any other child but the right support needs to be available to them.

“The silence from Wiltshire Council makes us fear the worst - that even more deaf children’s services will be falling under the axe this year, with parents being kept in the dark until it’s too late. This will have a serious impact on deaf children’s futures.”

The National Deaf Children’s Society sent Freedom of Information requests to 150 local authorities in England as part of the NDCS Stolen Futures campaign, which calls for a halt in cuts to essential services for deaf children.

The Stolen Futures campaign was launched in 2012 after NDCS investigations revealed that a quarter of councils planned to cut services for deaf children. 

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “The National Deaf Children’s Society is fully aware of our budget, and we have been completely transparent about our resources. During the past year we’ve been working closely with them on a review of the service we provide, and they have been fully aware that this joint review has included no plans to reduce resources.

"We are sorry the information was not also relayed through the FOI channels as requested in the timescale and we will correct that.”

Further information on the campaign can be found at: www.ndcs.org.uk/about_us/campaign_with_us/england/stolen_futures/stolen_futures.html