The school where sign language rules

A unique programme at Linden School is just over a year old – making it the only school in the Wellington region teaching Deaf students entirely in sign language.

Parents and teachers at a unique school for Deaf students within a school believe more children in Wellington could benefit from the service.

And they are calling for a high school to be set up to teach Deaf students across the region.

Linden School in Tawa is the only school in the Wellington region where Deaf students are taught entirely through sign language.

Each day, four primary-aged students attend the school, which has been operating since February 2021. They are enrolled through Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand, but attend classes, assemblies, and participate in sports days at Linden.

But Deaf Aotearoa general manager Bridget Ferguson whose 6-year-old son Carter attends the school, said there are likely more children in the Wellington region who need the school.

‘‘People don’t know what’s possible. Carter has come from a family of three generations who have been to Deaf schools, who have seen Deaf schools, seen Deaf professionals, but if 95% of these kids are born to families who have never experienced that, you don’t know what you don’t know.’’

Ferguson said parents of Deaf students had been fighting for a Wellington Deaf school for the past 20 years. Her daughter, also Deaf, had only intermittent access to teachers of the Deaf within the mainstream school system when she attended school in the 2010s. ‘‘This is inclusion, this is access. At Linden, it’s a win-win ... Carter gets to see other kids around and gets to be confident going out there as a Deaf kid.’’

Teacher Mary Sleep said the school provides a turangawaewae (place to stand) for Deaf children.

‘‘[The Deaf community] wanted a place for our Deaf children to grow, and make connections – lifelong connections. Lots of people in the Deaf community, they started being friends at school, that’s how they met people.’’

Many Deaf students in New Zealand are enrolled within mainstream schools, where they can access resource teachers for the Deaf or interpreters. But Sleep said there could be a delay in translation between teacher, interpreter and student.

She also said there was a ‘‘real isolation’’ for many Deaf students in mainstream schools – it was difficult for them to talk to peers in the playground without an interpreter, for instance.

‘‘All of the families have told us about how much happier, settled, and more confident [the kids] are, and how much their communication has improved.’’

Andre Hesp, 11, said he ‘‘loved learning activities, communicating with friends and being involved in the school’s activities’’.

Ko Taku Reo is funded by the Ministry of Education. It was set up in 2020 when Kelston Deaf Education Centre in Auckland and the Van Asch Deaf Education Centre in Christchurch merged.

About 125 students attend similar Ko Taku Reo primary and high school programmes available in Auckland and Christchurch, Ko Taku Reo executive principal James Le Marquand said.

Ferguson said there was a need for a Wellington high school for Deaf students.

‘‘There’s a whole generation of primary students coming through that deserve the same inclusion and support,’’ she said.

The Ministry of Education’s Sean Teddy said the ministry was considering possible options for an intermediate and secondary school.

To go to one of these schools, most students need to have specialist funding known as Ors – only provided for 1.31% of children with the highest needs.

Linden School principal Gaylene Hill said the school was lucky to have the Deaf education provision at the school.

‘‘We learn more from them than they learn from us. Having Ko Taku Reo enables us to teach in . . . English, Te Reo and New Zealand sign language.’’