Vision Support Team

Description

The Vision Support Team is part of the Specialist Support Team within the Inclusive Curriculum and Teaching Team. The Vision Support Team works with children and young people up to age 18 without an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC plan), and up to age 25 for those with an EHC plan, provided they remain in an educational placement.
Referrals for young people aged over 18 who have an EHC plan but have not previously been referred under Children’s services criteria will be signposted to adult services.

The Vision Support Team has members based across the County and consists of:

• Qualified Teachers of Visual Impairment (QTVI)
• Habilitation Specialists
• Specialist Support Advisors

The service works closely with Ophthalmologists, Orthoptists, Sensory Loss colleagues, Therapists, Educational Psychologists and voluntary agencies such as RNIB and Somerset Sight.

The team members will visit children and young people in their homes, pre-school settings, schools and colleges.

Qualified Teachers of Visual Impairment (QTVI)

QTVIs can assess functional vision. This can provide information about the child or young person’s vision and inform strategies to support access to the curriculum.

Following the assessment, the QTVI can:

• Provide information about the child or young person’s visual condition and how this may impact their learning.
• Provide information about strategies to support access to learning and independence.
• Provide information about adaptations and equipment to support inclusive access to learning.
• Provide direct support, teaching, training and advice to equip the child with necessary skills.
• Refer for support and reinforcement from the Specialist Support Advisors

Habilitation Specialist Team

We offer practical, personalised habilitation support, tailored to the needs of each child or young person. Our service includes:

• Sensory skills development – helping CYP use their available senses to understand and interact with their environment.
• Orientation and mobility training – safe travel, route learning and mobility aid use from early years through to college.
• Independent living skills – developing confidence in personal care, food preparation and everyday tasks.
• Environmental advice – recommendations to make educational, home and community environments more accessible.
• Play, learning and social development – supporting inclusion in activities, relationships, school life and community involvement.
• Communication and concept development – building spatial awareness, movement concepts and directional language linked to vision impairment.
• Transition support – tailored guidance for phased transitions between settings and into adulthood.
• Multi-agency working – collaborating with families, education, health and social care to ensure coordinated, effective support.

Accessing

• hospitals can refer using a Sight Registration Form or short referral form
• educational settings can refer using an EHA including ophthalmologist paperwork
• information can be requested by settings through the Inclusion Advice Line
• parents and settings can also find information on the SSE website

Type of provision

Targeted - Extra help for some people, usually after someone has made a referral

Contact information

• Website:Vision Support Team website