Sensory Support Team - Vision

• Sensory Support Team - Vision
• Support for families and children under 5
• Support for families and pupils aged 5-19
• Mobility and independent living skills
• Referral process
• Resources
• Contact

Sensory Support Team - Vision

The Vision Support Team are a team of specialist advisory teachers (QTVIs), a specialist support worker and a Habilitation Specialist (mobility and independent living skills) that offer a range of support for children and young people with a diagnosis of vision impairment.

We work in all Haringey mainstream educational settings and become involved with families and children from their diagnosis, often as young babies.

Our work includes supporting and advising teaching staff, families, and carers throughout a child’s educational journey.

Support for families and children under 5

We offer:

• support in settings (nurseries, childminders, carers): to encourage the development of early social skills through guided play; fostering the development of early independence skills; environmental safety audit; training staff; transitions into new settings; provide vision profiles.
• support for families and carers: through home visits and regular contact to help understand their child’s diagnosis and its implications for their education. We also signpost any relevant information and support available in the borough.
• liaison with medical professionals about developmental issues.
• contribution to formal assessments: such as Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP)

Support for families and pupils aged 5-19

We offer:

• regular visits to educational settings: to ensure staff have a good understanding of any relevant vision impairments; advise on reasonable adjustments to enable full curriculum access; provide vision profiles; undertake functional vision assessments; transition advice and support; regular 1:1 meeting with students to support social & emotional wellbeing and to develop self-efficacy skills
• training of school staff: on how to modify/adapt learning materials and resources
• contribution to formal assessments: such as Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) and attending annual reviews
• provision of specialist equipment and training: such as electronic magnifiers, if needed
• specialised individual teaching: including Braille when appropriate
• regular contact with families and carers: to advise and support throughout their child’s education

Mobility and independent living skills

Our Habilitation Specialist teaches children and young people with vision impairment to:

• move around safely, efficiently, and independently as possible
• develop independent living skills, including home visits to support families
• provide sighted guide training for people working with a child or young person with a vision impairment
• conduct environmental audits to ensure settings are risk-assessed and adopt

Referral process

Referrals can be sent directly to the team if a child has a confirmed vision impairment from a medical practitioner. Signed consent must be obtained from parents.

Specialist hospitals also send referrals directly to the service following appointments.

Email
sensorysupport@haringey.gov.uk

Telephone
0208 489 5039/8338

Resources

• Identifying Students with a VI (PDF, 73KB)
• RNIB Information about VI - Guide for parents (PDF, 1671KB)
• RSBC Quick Services Guide (PDF, 128KB)

Resources for sensory team:

• The Referral Process VI Team (PDF, 14KB)
• Haringey VI Referral Form 2022 (PDF, 182KB)

Contact 

Email
sensorysupport@haringey.gov.uk

Telephone

0208 489 5039/8338

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