Head of Service  07787261001

Hearing Impairment  07919290794

Visual impairment 07919290989

Wirral Council’s Sensory Service aims to ensure that deaf and visually impaired children and young people (0-19 years) receive an appropriate inclusive education that enables them to fulfill their potential and develop into independent adults. The teachers of the Visually Impaired, Teachers of the Deaf and specialist teaching assistants will work with you and your child throughout their education: from early years until they leave school or school 6^th form. The core work of the Sensory Service is to deliver the following:

• enable students to develop specialist skills e.g. Braille, to help them access the curriculum independently
• monitor progress of pupils to ensure that student’s individual needs are met,
• undertake specialist assessments (hearing assessment and functional vision assessments)
• maintain records and provide reports as necessary
• undertake specialist assessments of language and literacy development which monitor progress, inform planning and IEP’s, and facilitate successful transition
• provide advice on alternative methods of communication
• provide advice on the differentiation and adaptation of teaching materials
• liaise with Paediatric and Orthoptic departments to ensure an effective exchange of pupil information
• liaise with other agencies across Children’s services, including health and voluntary agencies
• advise on technology which can improve access to the curriculum or the environment and deliver training for its use e.g. magnification software and radio aid systems etc
• develop visually impaired pupils’ mobility and rehabilitation skills to ensure safe access to the school and outside environment
• modification of Braille or large print materials where needed
• provide advice, support and information to parents and carers which promote principles of good practice
• promote a positive image of deafness and visual impairment and encourage self-advocacy skills.
• provide training, advice and support for school/setting staff

The Sensory Service will require a medical diagnosis of impairment and will apply the NatSIP Eligibility Framework (see link) when deciding on the need and level of interventions. The NatSIP criteria is fluid and can change according to a number of factors such as transition and change of condition. The Service helps all settings meet their requirements under the Equality Act and also the Children and Families Act.

Covid-19

Wirral Sensory Service and the Covid-19 Pandemic

Downloads:

Eligibility Framework

Deaf Base Criteria

Hearing Referral Form

Radio Aid Guidance

Wirral Deaf Children Society Flyer

Visual Impairment Referral Form

Visual Impairment Parent Consent Form 

Vision Services Working Group Terms of Ref

Resources:

About the Vision Support Team – Co-produced with parents

Parent leaflet

Action for Blind People
https://actionforblindpeople.org.uk/support-and-information-page/support/children-young-people-families/

Royal National Institute of Blind People
http://www.rnib.org.uk/

Blind Children UK
http://www.blindchildrenuk.org/

Wirral Society of the Blind and Partially Sighted
http://wirralsociety.org.uk/

Scottish Sensory Centre
http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/

Through Scarlett’s Eyes
http://www.throughscarlettseyes.com/

WonderBaby.org
http://www.wonderbaby.org/

National Deaf Children’s Society
http://www.ndcs.org.uk/
http://www.ndcs.org.uk/family_support/useful_links_and_organisations/index.html

JSNA Vision Loss Services in Wirral  http://info.wirral.nhs.uk/document_uploads/JSNA2015/JSNA%20CYP%20Eye%20Health%20July%202015%20FINAL_4d817.pdf

JSNA Hearing Loss Services in Wirralhttp://info.wirral.nhs.uk/document_uploads/JSNA%202016/JSNA%20HST%20Final%20Feb%2016a.pdf

RSBC’s Connecting Families Online

Connecting Families Online