Support for children with a Multi Sensory Impairment

• A specialist teacher of Multi Sensory Impairment will work with children and young people 0 to 25 years with or without Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in in homes, mainstream schools (maintained and academies), some non-maintained nurseries, some specialist provision and in some colleges.

Who the service provides for:

• The team support children, young people and their families.
• Support is provided for children who have both a diagnosed hearing and visual loss.

How the service is accessed

• Referral is through Hearing Support Teachers, Vision Impairment Teachers

or NHS professionals.

• Pupils will be offered support from a teacher of Multi Sensory Impairment if they are already entitled to support from the Hearing Support Team and the Vision Impairment Team.

Support may include

• Support to parents / carers / settings to help them understand the implications of having a multi sensory loss
• Support to develop pupils’ skills in communication and mobility
• Advice to support access to the environment
• Support to ensure access to the curriculum
• Promote use of residual hearing and vision
• Advice on specialist equipment and teaching strategies
• Loan of equipment
• Liaison with other professionals and to facilitate multi-agency working
• Advice on managing the learning environment
• Training for setting staff and other professionals
• Access to Deaf Blind Guidance assessment as appropriate
• Contributions to annual reviews, review meetings and multi-professional meetings
• Monitor and record progress through observation and assessments, providing written reports as necessary
• Observe in the classroom to support and inform inclusive practice
• Advice and support at setting/school transfer
• Advice on Local Authority policy and current legislation