Vision Support Team
What is a Visual Impairment?
There are a wide range of visual impairments from severe sight impairment (blind) to sight impairment (partially sighted).
A visual impairment...
- is diagnosed by an Ophthalmologist
- will affect each individual differently
- can affect near vision, distance vision or visual fields
- can range from severe sight impairment (SSI) to sight impairment (SI).
As the implications of vision loss are different for everyone, a wide range of strategies may be needed to enable our young people to have equal access to the educational and broader curriculum.
Information about specific visual impairments can be found on the Scottish Sensory Centre website and on the RNIB - Eye Conditions website.
We are:
A specialist team comprising of:
- Qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired (QTVI)
- Specialist Visually Assistive Technology Teacher
- Habilitation Specialist
We work with:
- Children and young people (0-25 years) with a diagnosed visual impairment
- their families
- settings, schools (mainstream and specialist) and colleges
- other professionals
We support by:
- giving support and advice to families and settings/schools following diagnosis
- providing specialist teaching for some learners (for example, Braille and Assistive Technology)
- providing habilitation training for identified learners
- carrying out functional visual assessments followed by written reports and advice
- providing advice about specialist adaptations to learning materials and the environment
- providing advice about specialist equipment
- training staff who work with settings (all training is advertised through School Messenger and can be found on the SEND training directory. Please note: login to School Messenger required.)
- providing statutory advice for EHCPs and EHCP reviews
- supporting transition between phases and stages of education
Read our returning to settings factsheet following Coronavirus
Making a referral
Schools and settings can make a referral using a 'Request for Involvement' form and providing parent/carer consent, found on the SEND Forms and Guidance page. The eligibility criteria for each service is listed on each of these forms.
Please note: both of the forms below must be completed at the same time.
Complete an SEN Support Services Request for Involvement Form and Parental Consent Form
Before any action can be taken, medical information is gained.
Medical information is used alongside a functional visual assessment (where relevant) and a standardised set of criteria to determine the level of support given using the National Sensory Impairment Partnership (NATSIP).
Useful links:
About Cerebral Visual Impairment
About Family Support
- Through Scarlett's eyes
- Royal Society for Blind Children
- iSight Cornwall
- Guide Dogs - Children and young people's service
- Victa - improving the lives of children and young people who are blind or partially sighted
- Look UK
About producing accessible resources
Compliments, comments and complaints
For compliments, comments and complaints view the information online.
What is a Visual Impairment?
Continue readingThere are a wide range of visual impairments from severe sight impairment (blind) to sight impairment (partially sighted).
A visual impairment...
- is diagnosed by an Ophthalmologist
- will affect each individual differently
- can affect near vision, distance vision or visual fields
- can range from severe sight impairment (SSI) to sight impairment (SI).
As the implications of vision loss are different for everyone, a wide range of strategies may be needed to enable our young people to have equal access to the educational and broader curriculum.
Information about specific visual impairments can be found on the Scottish Sensory Centre website and on the RNIB - Eye Conditions website.
A specialist team comprising of:
- Qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired (QTVI)
- Specialist Visually Assistive Technology Teacher
- Habilitation Specialist
- Children and young people (0-25 years) with a diagnosed visual impairment
- their families
- settings, schools (mainstream and specialist) and colleges
- other professionals
- giving support and advice to families and settings/schools following diagnosis
- providing specialist teaching for some learners (for example, Braille and Assistive Technology)
- providing habilitation training for identified learners
- carrying out functional visual assessments followed by written reports and advice
- providing advice about specialist adaptations to learning materials and the environment
- providing advice about specialist equipment
- training staff who work with settings (all training is advertised through School Messenger and can be found on the SEND training directory. Please note: login to School Messenger required.)
- providing statutory advice for EHCPs and EHCP reviews
- supporting transition between phases and stages of education
Read our returning to settings factsheet following Coronavirus
Schools and settings can make a referral using a 'Request for Involvement' form and providing parent/carer consent, found on the SEND Forms and Guidance page. The eligibility criteria for each service is listed on each of these forms.
Please note: both of the forms below must be completed at the same time.
Complete an SEN Support Services Request for Involvement Form and Parental Consent Form
Before any action can be taken, medical information is gained.
Medical information is used alongside a functional visual assessment (where relevant) and a standardised set of criteria to determine the level of support given using the National Sensory Impairment Partnership (NATSIP).
About Cerebral Visual Impairment
About Family Support
- Through Scarlett's eyes
- Royal Society for Blind Children
- iSight Cornwall
- Guide Dogs - Children and young people's service
- Victa - improving the lives of children and young people who are blind or partially sighted
- Look UK
About producing accessible resources
For compliments, comments and complaints view the information online.
