SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Support Service – Vision Impairment

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The Vision Impairment Team works with families in their homes and staff in schools/settings to provide the best education possible for Children and Young People with a Vision Impairment. 

These children and young people may be described, in general terms, as having a mild, moderate or severe Vision Impairment.

The team provides:

  • advice to families
  • home visits for Early Years children from a Qualified Teacher of Vision Impairment (QTVI) or a Vision Impairment Specialist Support Practitioner (VI SSP)
  • invite to the specialist Hearing and Vision Early Years group - SENsory Stars
  • specialist vision assessments using a combination of informal /formal /observational assessments in a variety of contexts
  • advice regarding the successful inclusion of children and young people with vision impairment 
  • advice on the maintenance and use of equipment to support vision and learning
  • strategies and resources to improve levels of attainment and progress, to aid target setting and to develop programmes of work
  • direct teaching in schools to access the curriculum for example, some children and young people may be taught touch typing, pre-Braille and Braille skills
  • specialist training in independence and mobility skills by a trained Habilitation Officer
  • specialist INSET and training for schools and settings

We seek help from families, children and young people, schools and settings to make us aware of any adaptations that may be needed to access the service.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Robert Robinson
Contact Position
Manager, Special Educational Needs and Disability Support Service
Telephone
01254 666 520 01254 666 520
E-mail
robert.robinson@blackburn.gov.uk
Parent Organisation
SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) Support Service

Where to go

Notes

The service is part of the SEN and Disability Support Service and covers all schools and settings in Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Availability

Referral required
Yes
Referral Details

The Early Years Team run a drop in service that can be accessed each Thursday 11-2pm on 01254 585700 to discuss difficulties a setting may be experiencing, but also now have an online referral form for specific children. 

Please see link: Early Years SEND Support Service | Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Early Years settings should have worked through the Graduated Response Document (Local Offer) before contacting the Early Years Team with evidence of impact of these strategies.  form.

Once your child has started school, then we would advise you to contact the Vision Impairment Team via your child’s school SENDCo. (Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator).

Consultant Ophthalmologists; Orthoptists / Low Vision Clinic or Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) or Paediatricians may decide to refer your child directly to this service. 

The Special Needs Coordinator (SENDCo), may request involvement from the Vision Impairment team if they require additional support to meet your child’s needs.

Involvement from the Vision Impairment team may be:

  • part of a graduated response in school to your child’s needs
  • an outcome from an annual review of your child’s provision
  • directly requested from any other medical or SEND Support Service professionals involved with your child
Other notes

The Visual Impairment Team is available to support families within Blackburn with Darwen.

It also supports schools, settings and the local authority meet the duties placed upon them by Government  legislation for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

The team currently works across the age range 0-19 years.

How we communicate with service users and involve them in decision making and planning

In the Early Years

The team will contact you, or you can contact us once your child has a diagnosis. We shall then arrange to meet you and provide regular visits to make sure your child is progressing across all areas of development. These visits will provide you with an opportunity to discuss concerns and plan learning opportunities for your child. 

At School

Schools/settings are able to contact the service by telephone or email if they have a concern about meeting the needs of your child.

A member of the team will then make an appointment to visit the school/setting to discuss these concerns and arrange a plan of action to address them.

Schools/settings are given written strategies and a record of involvement for work undertaken.

Schools/settings are asked for verbal and written feedback on an ongoing basis and a formal evaluation of the service is requested annually. At this point schools/settings are asked to comment on their satisfaction with the service; how it has met their needs; how it has met the child/young person’s needs and if the service can be improved.

Funding

The team is funded as part of monies identified for children and young people with High Needs and is free to families, schools/settings within Blackburn with Darwen Borough for assessment, advice and training. 

Local Offer

Description

The Visual Impairment Team is available to support families within Blackburn with Darwen.

It also supports schools, settings and the local authority meet the duties placed upon them by Government legislation for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

The team currently works across the age range 0-19 years.

How we communicate with service users and involve them in decision making and planning: 

In the Early Years

The team will contact you, or you can contact us once your child has a diagnosis. We shall then arrange to meet you and provide regular visits to make sure your child is progressing across all areas of development. These visits will provide you with an opportunity to discuss concerns and plan learning opportunities for your child. 

At School

Schools/settings are able to contact the service by telephone or email if they have a concern about meeting the needs of your child. they will make a referral and a member of the team will then make an appointment to visit the school/setting to discuss these concerns and arrange a plan of action to address them.

Schools/settings are given a written Recommendations document to be shared with teachers and families. 

Schools/settings are asked for verbal and written feedback on an ongoing basis. A formal evaluation of the service is requested annually. At this point schools/settings are asked to comment on their satisfaction with the service; how it has met their needs; how it has met the child/young person’s needs and if the service can be improved.

Funding

The team is funded as part of monies identified for children and young people with High Needs and is free to families, schools/settings within Blackburn with Darwen Borough for assessment, advice and training. 

Contact Name
Nicola Savage Lead Teacher for Hearing / Vision Impairment
Contact Telephone
01254 666902 or work mobile – 07966 278138
Contact Email
nicola.savage@blackburn.gov.uk
Local Offer Age Bands
0-5 years
5-11 years
11-16 years
16-19 years
Needs Level
Low
Medium
High
SEN Provision Type
Targeted
Specialist

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