The Education Service for Sensory Support is concerned with all aspects of education and support for children, pupils and students who are hearing or visually impaired and their families.
Our aim is to give them every chance to achieve full potential and to minimise the educational, social and emotional aspects of hearing or visual impairment.
We also provide a range of services promoting understanding the needs of sensory impairment.
Referral may be made by anyone with parental permission, direct to our service co-ordinator.
We have a central information and resource bank for all those interested in the needs and development of hearing or visually impaired children or adults.
We provide information regarding:
- type, degree and educational impact of a child's hearing loss and visual impairment
- number of children in the Children's Services Authority with a hearing loss and/or visual impairment
- developments in deaf education
- audiology
- deaf Awareness
- visual impairment awareness
- formal Educational Assessment
- formal assessment in relation to the Code of Practice
We are able to provide an assessment for children with hearing impairment. This is provided in collaboration with the Area Health Authority for children and pupils with hearing impairment.
Assessments and management cover the type and degree of hearing loss, use of amplification, and condition of amplification. Educational hearing tests can be carried out in school with the permission of the parent or guardian/carer.
We also provide assessments for children with visual impairment providing full functional assessment of vision and mobility.
Your child does not have to have a Statement of Special Educational Needs to receive support from us. We will see any child who has or is thought to have a hearing and/or visual impairment.
We provide an educational evaluation of the visually and hearing impaired child. The evaluation tracks the pupil's progress and identifies any needs in relation to the Code of Practice and Statutory Assessment.
Monitoring and assessment is of:
- the Code of Practice
- childs current strength and needs
- attainments
- use of differentiated and modified materials
- pupils IEP Individual Education Programme)
- mobility
We liaise with and give advice to:
- parents
- educational settings
- education support services
- the Area Health Authority /Health Visitor
- social Services
- pre-school through to Further Education
We collaborate with parents, teachers and other professionals in planning and implementing programmes of work that enable hearing or visually impaired pupils and students to participate fully in the curriculum.
We give support and guidance to pupils and students, parents and extended family, and other professionals working with the visually and hearing impaired.
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