Vision Support Services

VISION SUPPORT SERVICES

Warwickshire Local Authority has commissioned Exhall Grange to lead and manage their specialist teaching service for pupils with a visual impairment. The overarching aim of the Vision Support Service is to enable children and young people with visual impairments ‘the opportunity to be equal and the right to be different.’

The Vision Support Service provides support for children and young people with a visual impairment from birth to 19 years of age in a variety of educational settings. We provide support for babies within the home and work in nurseries and pre-school settings, mainstream and special schools. We support the Local Authority in carrying out its statutory functions and responsibilities in relation to children and young people with a visual impairment.

STAFFING

The Vision Support Service is staffed by Qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired (QTVI). We currently employ 2.9 FTE Qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired:-

Faye Commander is the Lead Consultant Teacher and manages the service, and works 3 days a week (in addition, she works for Exhall Grange Specialist School one day a week as their lead VI teacher)
Luci Geapin – full time
Helen Newman – 4 days per week
Marie Smith – 1 day per week
Dawn Vickerstaff – 3 days per week
Jane Sanderson – Strategic Lead

We also have a teaching assistant on secondment from Exhall Grange School for 2 days per week. Once your child has been assessed and placed on the VSS caseload you will be allocated a named QTVI.

For enquires about a referral contact:- fayecommander@warwickshire.gov.uk or telephone 024 76 364200 to speak to someone.

REFERRALS

There are a variety of ways to make a referral.

Referrals are taken from parents/carers, health, or education
Telephone IDS (Kings House) 024 76 368811 or IDS (Saltisford) on 01926 413737 and provide as much detail as you can. These are entered onto the central IDS record system and shared with VSS team. Please make sure that you have parents’ permission before making a referral
A hospital referral form is also in place so that consultants can refer to us directly
OR contact Faye Commander, Lead Consultant Teacher fayecommander@warwickshire.gov.uk

Following on from referral and assessment pupils are taken onto the VSS caseload if…

They have a diagnosed visual impairment
Distance vision of 6/18 or worse
Near vision requiring font size 18 or worse
Reduced visual field
A degenerative eye condition
A clinical diagnosis of nystagmus

NATSIP criteria is used to help inform support levels from an allocated QTVI. Support in schools takes a variety of forms such as:-

Completing functional vision assessments
Providing reports for school and parents
Statutory advice for statements and EHCP
Training of Teaching Assistants
VI Awareness training for pupils and staff
Supporting the use of low vision aids
Supporting with specialist equipment and ICT
Environmental audits and advice
Advising on curriculum access
Examination/SATs access
Resources to support learning
Advising on the best way to prepare materials to suit pupil need
Braille teaching
Mobility and Independence skills

MOBILITY

Mobility support for pupils with a visual impairment is purchased by VSS from the mobility team at Exhall Grange Specialist School.

Pupils are referred for mobility by the QTVI working with your child, if they feel that your child needs additional support with moving about safely. A decision about mobility input will be based upon the severity of your child’s vision loss and their ability to manage the environment. A short block of mobility skills training may include:

Learning safe routes around school
Sighted guide techniques
Cane skills
Road safety
Use of public transport
Transition to a new setting
Parent mobility skills workshops

SUPPORT FOR PARENTS

We believe strongly in supporting parents to maximise their child’s full potential. Support can take many forms from a phone call, a visit, a report, to sign posting you to other agencies and charities.

We may:-

Provide home visits, especially to support babies and Early Years
Support families with a new diagnosis
Attend Early Support meetings
Facilitate Parent Groups such as Stay and Play at EGS
Support at some hospital visits and clinics
Provide a variety of written reports and details on child’s vision, curriculum access, progress etc.
Attend annual reviews and other educational support meetings
Provide feedback from a school visit or assessment
Signpost parents to activities or support from other agencies or charities

SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT AND LVA’S

The Vision Support Service has established good links with hospitals within Warwickshire. A low vision aid clinic has been established at UCHW and at Stratford Hospital. Referrals are made to the clinic through your child’s QTVI. The clinic provides a range of low vision aids, such as handheld magnifiers or monocular telescopes to improve independent learning.

Some pupils with a severe visual impairment benefit greatly from using specialist equipment in school to support their learning. This can range from equipment to support the learning of braille, to more specialist magnifiers, such as the Prodigi. Applications can be made by your QTVI to the Disability Access Fund to purchase such items where appropriate.

Recommendations for ensuring access to the curriculum are also given to schools. Details of how to provide adaptations such as large print materials, sloping desk tops, adapted exercise books, specialist measuring equipment etc. are provided alongside a child’s functional vision assessment.