The sensory and physical impairment team is a highly specialist team experienced in working with children and young people who have a hearing impairment, physical disability, multi-sensory impairment or visual impairment.
All children and their families are supported by the team from diagnosis (which might be at a very early age) and we will be involved until they leave school. Levels of support provided, however, will be dependent upon eligibility criteria and individual levels of need which is reviewed throughout the academic year.
Advice for parents and carers.
For information on individual teams including their eligibility criteria please see below.
We work with children and young people referred to the team who have a diagnosed hearing loss and will have been fitted with hearing equipment by an audiology clinic.
We work with children from birth until they leave school.
The support we provide can include:
- carrying out assessments where these will support in informing practice
- advising on: teaching strategies, management of the child’s needs, transitions and access to the curriculum
- advising on specialist equipment such as radio aid systems and other assistive technology
- carrying out essential checks to ensure that hearing equipment is working optimally
- monitoring needs and progress including: access to the curriculum, academic progress, social and emotional needs and level of independence
- providing training
- 1:1 teaching or group session
- providing direct support to families
- liaising with colleagues from health, social care and the voluntary sector
- providing specialist advice and reports
- Providing advice on access arrangements for examinations
- Providing opportunities for children, young people and families to meet socially
We work with children who have a significant medically identified visual impairment which has an impact on their access to education.
We do this by:
- working with children from birth until they leave school
- providing direct support to children, their families, schools and settings
- offering advice and support
- assessing functional vision and offering advice on teaching strategies and access to the curriculum
- advising on equipment and resources that the child may need
- providing support to help the child understand their vision
- providing training to schools, settings and families
- monitoring needs and progress including access to the curriculum, academic progress, social and emotional needs and level of independence
- teaching specific skills such as touch typing, pre-braille or braille skills
- liaising and working with colleagues from health, social care and the voluntary sector
- providing mobility assessments and training
- providing specialist advice and reports
- providing advice on access arrangements for examinations
- providing opportunities for children to meet socially
We work with children who have a dual sensory loss (hearing and vision) which combined affects a child’s communication, mobility (orientation) and ability to gain information. The team also supports children whose additional needs have impacted upon their development and who require a similar type of specialist support.
We do this by:
- providing direct support to the child and their families, including home intervention and specialist group interventions for early years children who meet the criteria
- the MSI specialist teacher role is part of the Specialist Assessment Service - Complex Medical Needs multidisciplinary assessment process
- working in partnership with the other specialisms within the SPI team to ensure a coordinated and individualised approach to support
- providing support to settings and schools
- assess, offer advice on teaching strategies, management of the child’s needs and access to the curriculum
- advise on the specialist equipment and materials the child may require
- assess and monitor the needs and the progress of the child
- provide training for staff in settings and schools
- teach specific skills
- work closely with colleagues from health providing joint visits and assessments
- work with colleagues in social care and the voluntary sector
- provide specialist advice and reports
- provide opportunities for children and families to meet
We work with children who have a long term medically defined physical disability which has an impact on their access to the curriculum and their ability to be involved in school life.
We provide support to improve access to buildings and facilities and to ensure pupils are able to access the curriculum. We support their social and emotional well being.
We do this by:
- working with children from birth until they leave school
- working directly with children their families, schools and settings to support and advice
- assessing , offer advice on teaching strategies, management of the child’s needs and access to the curriculum
- advising on the equipment and materials the child may require
- monitoring the needs and the progress of the child
- providing awareness and training sessions for staff
- teaching specific skills such as touch typing
- providing direct support to the child and family
- working with colleagues from health, social care and the voluntary sector
- assessing and making recommendations to improve the learning environment
- providing advice and support on specialist technology
- provide specialist advice and reports
- provide advice on access arrangements for examinations
- provide opportunities for children and parents to meet socially
Hypermobility
Please see our booklet on Hypermobility. We have also produced a record sheet for parents/carers and schools to complete.