The Camden Sensory Service for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (VI) and Multi-Sensory Impairments (MSI) provide a statutory service for families and educational settings around children and young people (CYP) with sensory impairment, aged 0 – 25yrs, following a referral which includes confirmation of vision / multi-sensory (deaf-blindness) impairment from an ophthalmology and / or audiology centre.
Our aim is to put children and young people (CYP) with sensory impairments at the centre of everything we do. We strive to minimise barriers to learning and achievement and enable them to develop and use skills they need for life. We aim to help families and educational settings understand the impact of sensory needs on learning and to raise the educational standards and achievements of children and young people (CYP) with sensory impairments.
The Camden Sensory Service for Children and Young People provide:
- Direct specialist teaching – in homes and educational settings
- Support for parents/carers from the child’s birth onwards, following diagnosis
- Discussions with students to ensure their views & needs are taken into account
- Guidance for families in selecting appropriate educational placements and through transition periods
- Assessment of functional vision / hearing and give specialist support
- Contribution to specialist statutory assessment procedures, and provide the provision in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
- Support to educational settings on making reasonable adjustments, teaching strategies, improve classroom conditions, along with staff training on VI / MSI awareness and equipment
- Provision and maintenance of, and instruction in use of specialist equipment
- Provide information and advice; sign post to other services and resources for deaf, vision impairment and multi-sensory impairment
The team works with CYP with sensory impairment and their families at home, local community, early year’s settings, mainstream schools, FE settings, special education settings and hospitals. We support CYP from 0 – 19yrs (to 25 if the CYP has an EHCP) who meet the NaTSIP eligibility criteria, which is based on the CYP’s level of vision / MSI and ongoing developmental needs.
The service provides advice, training and support on all aspects of VI / MSI awareness, equipment, learning, social / emotional well-being, post-16 studies and support through each transition stage.