Supporting Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children Through Acoustic Design: Little Buttons Preschool
◆ Overview
Little Buttons Preschool, in Guernsey, worked with the States Early Years Team to introduce a Simple Acoustics pod supporting children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Funded by the Guernsey Deaf Children's Society, the pod creates a quiet, sensory-friendly space for focused, one-to-one learning, free from the auditory and visual overstimulation of a busy preschool room.
◆ The Challenge
Early years settings are, by design, lively and stimulating places, full of the noise and visual activity that support young children's play and development. For a child with hearing loss, that same environment can make it hard to access language, follow one-to-one instruction or simply focus. Little Buttons Preschool and the States Early Years Team wanted a dedicated space where children with hearing loss could work one-to-one, away from the noise of the wider room, without losing the warmth of an early years setting.
◆ The Solution
Simple Acoustics designed a cosy but ergonomic acoustic pod, with enough headroom for an adult to stand and work comfortably alongside a child. The pod was built to be flexible from the outset: rather than being fixed to one room, it belongs to the States Early Years Team, so it can be moved across the island to wherever it is needed most. It is currently in use at Little Buttons Preschool.
◆ The Results
The pod has quickly become a valued part of Little Buttons' provision, helping children with hearing loss feel more confident and engaged while giving staff a reliable space for quiet, focused, one-to-one work. It is a clear example of how a small, targeted environmental change, tailored to specific sensory needs, can make a meaningful difference to a child's access to language, play and learning.
“A quiet space like this allows [deaf and hard of hearing] children to confidently access language, play and learning. It's a fantastic example of how small environmental changes can make a big difference to inclusion.”
“The charity fully understands the importance of young children being able to access language in a quieter environment. We were delighted to be able to fund the acoustic pod to be used at Little Buttons Preschool.”
“The pod has helped the children feel more confident and engaged, and it's created a genuinely inclusive environment.”
