Reader Sue Hamrouge gave me a call to ask if I would alert readers to a forthcoming conference to promote collaborative working between speech and language therapists who work with deaf people, and teachers of the deaf.

The conference is on 13th March in Wandsworth from 9.30-16.15. As the title 'Communicating clearly together' suggests, the programme is weighted towards presentations on joint working, including visits, assessment and target setting.

Although relationships between the two professions have not always been easy, Sue says "there is some excellent work going on now." She explains that initiatives such as the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme and the Early Support programme have brought the whole team of people who work with deaf children and their families closer together. Teams are quality audited every 12 to 18 months for the service they deliver following a diagnosis. This has led to sharing rather than duplication, and the good clinical practice is emerging as people work and develop resources together. Good news indeed for our tiniest clients and their families.