Vision Impairment

The Visual Impairment Service aims to ensure equal access to education for pupils with a vision impairment and endeavours to equip young people with strategies, skills and knowledge that promote independence in learning and life. The Service also aim to ensure that the individual needs of children with Vision Impairment are supported from the point of diagnosis and in collaboration with the views of the pupil, parents, teachers and other professionals.

The Service is for Children and Young People with a diagnosed Vision Impairment from 0-19 years of age or 25 with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).
The Vision Impairment Team provides information, advice, support, direct teaching and training to children with a vision impairment and their care givers across their homes, home early years settings, mainstream and special schools as determined by the referral and assessment process.
The team comprises of Qualified Teachers of the Vision Impaired (QTVI’s), teaching assistants, one admin manager and a QTVI who holds a specialist degree in mobility who works with children, their families and school staff.

The Vision Impairment Service works in partnership with families and schools offering support, advice and information regarding vision loss. We liaise with professionals such as Orthoptists, Ophthalmologists, Integrated Services for Children with Disabilities Team (CWD), Pupil Support Services, Portage, Educational Psychologists and other agencies*.

*with permission, in line with GDPR guidelines.

Depending on the individual needs of the Vision Impaired child, the service can provide the following:

• Information, advice, support, direct teaching and training to children with Vision Impairment and their parents in homes, early years settings, mainstream and special schools to ensure the student can access the curriculum, and to provide teaching and support for appropriate elements of the additional specialist VI curriculum.
• Direct support and training to teaching staff and teaching assistants via INSET days, enabling them to feel confident in supporting the needs of pupils with Vision Impairment.
• Functional vision assessments to ensure advice for access to provision are relevant to an individual’s need. This can include specific and individual advice to schools regarding the pupil’s visual impairment, transition needs, intervention and support, as well as access arrangements for examinations, environmental audits and advice on classroom environments, adaptations and specialist resources including speech and magnification software.
The service offers an adaptation service following the assessment of the individual pupil in line with the Department of Education guidelines for enlarged print, tactile resources or Braille.
• Direct teaching of mobility skills, life skills, and independence where appropriate.
• Contribution to Education Health and Care Plan assessments and Annual Reviews in line with the NATSIP Matrix guidelines for pupils with a visual impairment

• Advice and support for special schools to implement vision into daily learning passports for children who have a visual impairment with additional and complex needs.

Tameside Vision Impairment Service
Ryecroft Hall
Manchester Road
Audenshaw
M34 5ZJ

Phone: 0161 342 4029
Email: sensory.supportservice@tameside.gov.uk
For adult vision impairment service please contact: 0161 922 4888