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Cornwall Council - Vision Support Team
Services and organisations that have the Local Offer flash have filled out inclusion information, meaning that they meet the needs of people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

The Vision Support Team is part of the Sensory Support Service within Education in Together for Families.

Children in Cornwall with sensory impairment are supported and encouraged along their individual journeys to be the best that they can be!

In partnership with parent/carers, schools and colleges, related agencies and voluntary organisations, the Sensory Support Service aims for children and young people with sensory impairment to:

  • develop good language and effective interaction communication skills
  • develop independence skills
  • be given the equality of opportunity to access a wide curriculum at school and college
  • gain social and emotional inclusion in their wider community
  • achieve economic well-being

The Vision Support Team consists of Advisory Teachers of the Vision Impaired, Qualified Paediatric Habilitation Specialists and Teaching Assistants from the Sensory Support Service.

  • All teachers are excellent classroom practitioners who have: 
      • At least two years teaching experience before they join us.
      • A mandatory qualification in teaching learners with vision impairment, or the qualification is undertaken with us. 
      • Mentors when they are new to the team.
  • They work with a wide range of children and young people who have varying levels of vision impairment.
  • All staff in the Sensory Support Service update their skills regularly.  There is a varied programme of Continued Professional Development (CPD) in place.

The Team supports children and young people with vision impairments across Cornwall in the home, pre-school setting, primary school, secondary school or college.

The Team offers specialist teaching, advice and support, functional vision assessments and bespoke training.

Age range: 0 to 25

Requests for involvement can be made by parents, health professionals, Speech and Language Therapist, schools and pre-schools and other agencies. Please use the form on the website below.

www.cornwall.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools-and-colleges/special-educational-needs-file/information-advice-and-support/council-services/vision-support-team/

Further information is available on the Vision Support Team website.

Who to contact

Contact name
Trudy Chappell
Contact position
Sensory Support Team Lead
Telephone
01726 226882
E-mail
sensorysupportservice@cornwall.gov.uk
Website
Cornwall Council vision support team link

Where to go

Name
Educational Audiology Centre
Address
Priory Road
St Austell
Cornwall
Postcode
PL25 5AB

Time / date details

When is it on?
Monday to Friday 08:30 - 16.30
Time of day
Afternoon
Morning

Other details

Costs

Details
The Vision Support Team provides support free of charge to children with an educational significant vision loss. A range of training is provided to schools/settings.
Do you offer a free or reduced rate to carers?
No

Availability

Age ranges
From 0 years to 25 years
Referral required
Yes
Referral details

Requests for Involvement can be made by parents, health professionals, colleagues from other agencies and schools/settings. Once a referral is made, medical information is always requested from Orthoptists and/or Ophthalmologists.

Inclusion details

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How we make our service inclusive

The Vision Support Team works closely with schools, settings,and families to ensure that children and young people with vision impairment are included socially, emotionally and educationally enabling them to reach their potential.

Staff SEND experience

All teachers in the Team have Qualified Teacher Status. Qualified Teachers of the Vision Impaired hold a Mandatory Qualification in the teaching of children and young people with visual impairment. Qualified Paedatric Habilitation Specialists have specialist qualifications to work with children and young people with visual impairment. All staff undergo regular training to maintain and improve upon their specialist skills.

How our service supports providers / schools / colleges

Once a referral has been made and medical confirmation of a diagnosis of vision impairment is confirmed, the Eligibility Criteria developed by the National Sensory Impairment Partnership (NATSIP) are used to determine level of involvement with the child or young people. NATSIP is a Department for Education funded organisation that develops provision and strategy to support all providers (including Local Authorities) who support children with sensory disabilities. Depending on assessed need, involvement can range from visits to home or school twice a week to one annual visit or monitoring progress via ophthalmology reports only.

Other local or national support

Links are available at the website: RNIB, Blind Children UK, Action for Blind People, SENSE, iSightCornwall.

Resolving disagreements, mediation and making complaints

Either in writing to:  
Sensory Support Service Lead , 
Educational Audiology Centre 
Priory Road 
St Austell 
PL25 5AB 

Telephone: 01726 61004 

Email: sensorysupportservice@cornwall.gov.uk

If the concern isn’t resolved, please follow the Cornwall Council comments and complaints procedure.

Last updated: 01/05/2020

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