One of the services we provide at the North Wales Deaf Association is an Education Officer. The Education Officer has been employed by NWDA since 1999. From 1999 to 2003 funding for this post was supplied by Children in Need, and from 2003 to 2006 the post was funded by the National Lottery. Since 2006 the post has been funded by a legacy. Funding was also declined by Children in Need in 2007. The service is offered to children with all levels of hearing difficulties aged between 0-18 years living in North Wales. The primary role of the Education Officer is to integrate deaf children into main-stream education, thereby stopping deaf children feeling isolated, improve their confidence and achieve their full potential. The duties of the Education Officer includes: visiting deaf, deafened, deafblind and hard of hearing children educated in mainstream or specialist schools at their place of education. They will work on a one to one basis with children who also have the assistance of an Education Services support worker. They can help as relay interpreter between the child and the support worker and help with communication as the support worker often only has basic signing skills. The Education Officer offers deaf awareness training to teachers and other pupils, this can be carried out at lunchtimes, playtimes or after school and teaches basis sign language courses over a period of six to eight weeks. Often the school will request help with deaf awareness when a class is involved in a particular project, i.e. senses or weather. The Education Officer also gives presentations in school assemblies and can offer basis finger spelling training to younger pupils. Teachers are given sign language training on staff training days. They will attend schools and offer one to one support to pupils as a deaf role model, giving support and listening to any concerns the child may have. They can also offer further education advice and accompany the child to national specialist further education facilities. Angela can assist teachers with interpretation prior to any exams being undertaken by the child. The Education Officer works closely with other agencies, including education services and health authorities and referrals for the education officer come from specialist deaf teachers, health authorities and as a result of hearing assessments. They can accompany children to hearing aid assessments and offer support if required. The Education Officer will inform all parties of the role of NWDA and refer them to other staff if their services are required, as well as informing children and their parents of the role of organisations such as NCDS, Cyswllt, RNID and BDA. The education officer role also requires visits to pre-school children and their parents and will receive referrals from neo natal screenings and will visit homes in order to offer advice, support and communication assistance. The Education Officer will also accompany children and their parents to nursery school and help the child and their peers “settle in”. They will give honest and impartial advice to parents on the choices available to them allowing them to make informed decisions on issues such as schooling, equipment and cochlear implants. Since 2003, The Education Officer has supported over 1,000 children. The funding we have rund dry in April 2008 and we are looking for approximately £40,000 per annum to continue with this role full time or £20,000 part time. We do have offers of assistance but need to riase at least £10,000 a year for 3 years for the part time position.