SEN support in schools

The vision impairment support team has:

• two qualified teachers of students with vision impairment (QTVI)
• a specialist practitioner who is a teaching assistant trained in understanding the special educational needs of children and young people with vision impairment (VI)

Places QTVI offer support 

The type of support and where it is delivered depends on your child’s diagnosis of vision impairment and its impact. 

 This may include: 

• preschool children (0-4 years)
• family homes
• early years settings
• mainstream and special schools
• colleges  

The team also collaborates with other professionals including habilitation specialists. 

QTVI have advised that some children and young people should receive an initial assessment of their mobility and independence needs.  

This is conducted by a registered qualified habilitation specialist (RQHS).  

Habilitation training has two main aims: 

• maximising the personal independence of a child or young person with vision needs ready for their life as a young adult 
• preparing a young person for moving on to college, university, apprenticeships, or work, as an independent young adult

Types of support offered 

The type and frequency of support offered will depend on the level of vision impairment (mild, moderate, severe, or profound) as diagnosed by an ophthalmologist and its impact on you, your child or young person. 

The support offered may include: 

• promoting early development and learning 
• assessing remaining vision and functional skills 
• strategies for curriculum access and independent learning 
• inclusion training for teaching professionals and parents 
• providing instructions and advice on curriculum framework for children and young people with vision impairment (CFVI) 
• teaching specialist skills such as braille literacy, the use of specialist equipment, and technology 
• independent living and safe travel skills such as use of long cane
• advice on adapting and modifying curriculum and environments to be accessible 
• promoting confidence, self-advocacy and connecting with community 
• providing emotional wellbeing support and coping with vision impairment
• advice on access arrangements for exams 
• develop sensory and communication skills  
• transition planning
• preparing for adulthood 

You can learn more about the CFVI on the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s (RNIB) website.

The deaf and hearing support team has three qualified teachers:

• a specialist practitioner
• a visiting audiology technician 
• a specialist speech and language therapist (SaLT) for paediatrics and deafness

Support from this team is offered to children and young people from birth to 19 years old with a diagnosed hearing loss, which includes: 

• mild-moderate, moderate, severe or profound levels of hearing loss
• unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss 
• conductive hearing loss (if persistent and when hearing aids are issued) 

Places support is offered 

The type of support and where it is delivered depends on your child’s diagnosis of hearing loss and its impact.  

This may include: 

• specialist playgroup for preschool children (0-4 years)
• family homes 
• early years settings 
• mainstream and special schools 
• colleges  

The team also works with other professionals, such as speech and language therapists (SaLT) and audiologists to help tailor the support they can provide. 

Types of support offered 

The type and frequency of support offered will depend on the level of hearing loss (mild, moderate, severe or profound) as diagnosed by clinical audiologists and its impact on you, your child or young person.  

Other factors include:  

• age at diagnosis 
• if your child or young person has additional needs 
• if your child is in a transition year (about to start or change school) 

The type of support and its frequency will be reviewed and will change if needed.

Support for a mild hearing loss

If your child or young person has recently been diagnosed with a bilateral (affecting both ears) mild hearing loss and has been prescribed hearing aid(s), the audiologists in the clinic have most likely already referred you to the deaf and hearing support team.

However, if your child has been diagnosed with a temporary mild to moderate hearing loss, for example caused by glue ear, you will not need a referral to our team. 

Do not worry if you are not sure – you can still access the support we offer below.

Support for bilateral (affecting both ears) mild hearing loss:

Children and young people diagnosed with bilateral mild hearing loss who have been issued hearing aids, will receive the following package of support: 

• advice from a qualified teacher of the deaf over the phone at the point of referral
• invitation to Babble and Chat sessions for preschool children (0 to 4 years) 
• generic recommendations for this type of loss to school or setting SENCOs and further support if required 
• signposting to other organisations, such as National Deaf Children’s Society and BID Services

Please note that this package of support does not include the allocation of a visiting teacher of the deaf.

Support for a unilateral hearing loss (affecting one ear only): 

Children and young people diagnosed with unilateral hearing loss will receive the following package of support: 

• advice from a qualified teacher of the deaf over the phone at the point of referral and further support if required 
• invitation to Babble and Chat Group sessions for preschool children (0-4yrs) 
• free online training for professionals 
• signposting to other organisations, such as National Deaf Children’s Society and BID Services 
• information about unilateral hearing loss from National Deaf Children’s Society

Support for mild, moderate, severe, or profound hearing loss: 

Support for children diagnosed with a mild-moderate, moderate, severe or profound hearing loss is delivered by a visiting teacher of the deaf or specialist practitioner.  

This may include: 

• ongoing advice and support for parents and carers 
• specialist playgroup Babble and Chat for pre-schoolers with hearing loss and their families 
• acc ten guidance with effective strategies for staff 
• in-class observations and individual teaching sessions 
• understanding their own hearing loss (for older children) 
• opportunities for children with hearing loss to meet other deaf children 
• preparation for adulthood: transition to college or university support including an online annual programme 
• advice and supporting letters for Disability Living Allowance (DSA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) 
• opportunities for children and young people and their families to meet other children and families  
• access to a radio aid (assistive listening device) once the child is in a setting 
• support around development of listening and language 
• online or in-person training for adults working with your child 
• support around transition (starting or changing nursery or school) 
• assessment of listening and language and target setting 
• advice around teaching and learning approaches, social interaction, emotions and literacy 

The physical disability support team help children and young people who have a physical disability, motor skills delay or complex medical condition that affects their access to learning. 

The team includes: 

• three advisory teachers 
• a specialist practitioner

Places support is offered 

The physical disability support team offer support in: 

• mainstream nurseries
• mainstream schools 
• some specialist schools and centres without a physical disability specialism 

The team works closely with colleagues in health which includes: 

• physiotherapists
• occupational therapists (OT)  
• specialist nursing teams 
• paediatricians and consultants

The team also works with school staff, offering support to SENCOs, medical and welfare officers and provide advice to physical education (PE) and classroom staff. 

Types of support offered 

The type and frequency of support offered will vary depending on a child or young person’s needs.  

This may include: 

• assessments and monitoring visits to schools from a specialist practitioner 
• the loan of equipment such as supportive seating and toileting aides, typing programmes and specialist writing equipment 
• training for school staff, parents, carers and professionals either online or in person
• preparation for adulthood programme for families with students in Year 9 and above 
• assisting families, children and young people with applications for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Disabled Student Allowance (DSA), the Blue Badge Scheme and Personal Independent Payment (PIP)  
• transition advice and support when children move between schools and key stages 
• supporting children and young people back to school following surgeries or other health needs 
• environmental audits to check accessibility 
• advice on personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) and risk assessments 
• advice on accessing school trips 
• signposting to other services such as charities, travel training and funding streams