Specialist Teaching Services

A referral can be passed to the Vision Support Service through a recognised medical source i.e. ophthalmologist, paediatrician, school doctor/nurse, health visitor, GP etc. if

Health professionals provide information on the individual child’s visual difficulties and any other compounding factors. This enables us to give parents, schools, and other professionals, involved with the child, appropriate advice on the implications of the condition.

The criterion applied when considering acceptance of referrals is that the child has or is suspected to have a visual impairment resulting in a significant near or distance visual acuity loss, a reduction of visual fields or other functional visual disabilities which affect or are likely to affect his/her general development, educational performance and rate of progress.

Referrals are passed to the service manager (Vision Support Service), who allocates the child to a qualified teacher of the visually impaired in order that initial assessment may be undertaken.

On conclusion of the initial assessment stage, a report will be prepared by the specialist teacher. A copy of this report is forwarded to the child’s parents, school and any other professionals involved with the child.

Following initial assessment, the decision will be made as to whether further involvement by the Vision Support Service is appropriate.  Caseloads/pupil database will be amended accordingly. Where a pre-school child is found to have a significant visual impairment and may require statutory assessment, with parental approval the Educational Psychology Service is informed and a copy of the initial report is forwarded to this service.