Vision Impairment Team
We are a team of Qualified Teachers of children and young people with vision impairments (QTVI). We provide specialist support to children and young people with reduced vision that cannot be corrected by wearing glasses and whose vision impairment has an impact on their education.
What can the Vision Impairment Team help with?
As well as working directly with children and young people and their families through pre-school, school, and up to employment, we can support mainstream educational settings by:
- delivering functional vision assessments which help us to assess the difficulties a child may be experiencing
- advising on specialist curriculum, including Braille, mobility, access and IT
- contributing to the assessment and production of EHCPs
- attending Annual Review meetings for the children we are supporting
- providing support to schools and parents in preparing students for the transition into primary school and onto secondary school, college and university
- working collaboratively with professionals who may also be involved with a child
- signposting you to services, voluntary and charitable, which offer support to children and families.
The Vision Support Service have a statuary duty to provide reports for children diagnosed with vision loss who are requesting an EHCP.
We provide bespoke training packages both within Southwark and in other boroughs, on topics such as:
- general vision impairment awareness
- subject specific guidance
- aspects of vision impairments such as cortical visual impairment or complex needs
- emotional aspects of a vision impairment
- resource adaptation
- school environmental audit
- assessing vision impairment in children with complex needs
- working with other professionals including speech therapists.
We have a set of SIM specs which enable the participants to experience for a short while what it might be like to have a vision impairment.
To find out more about what support is available for:
- exam access arrangements
- technology for vision impairment access
- transitions
- school trips
visit Southwark's Local Offer 'Support for schools' page.
How can I access this service?
We accept referrals from schools and health, and respond to direct queries from families, signposting to the appropriate route. A referral form is available on request from the team.
We use the Team Around the Child approach to sustain a multi-agency partnership.
How to contact us
If you are unsure of how to proceed or need advice on supporting a child who may have a vision loss, please contact us:
Head of Service: Susan King O'Neill