About the service
We provide specialist intervention and support to babies, children and young people who:
- have a permanent or long term hearing loss or are deaf
- have vision impairment
- have multi-sensory impairment
We also provide guidance, support and unbiased information that will allow you to make your own decisions for your child
We work with many families in Stockport from the time of diagnosis of their child’s hearing loss and/or vision impairment right through to when their child reaches the age of 25. We’re invested in the principles of co-production. This means involving you and your child as fully as we can in the support that we offer. We work directly with babies, children and young people in homes, nurseries and child care settings as well as schools and colleges.
Find more information about support for young people aged 16 to 25.
Support that we offer
We offer:
- family guidance and coaching
- a specialist resourcing service for the modification of educational learning and examination materials for children and young people with vision impairment
- provision of specialist equipment and technology
Social and emotional wellbeing
The social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people with hearing loss or vision impairment is critical to the support we provide. We enable children to be as independent and successful as possible as they move from pre-school through their educational years. We provide opportunities for children, young people and their extended families to get together with other families.
Family sign language
The service provides family sign language classes for families of deaf children and young people who are linked to the service.
Our team
Our team of 42 staff includes:
Specialist Teachers
Our qualified and experienced teachers hold additional specialist mandatory qualifications as teachers of the deaf and/or teachers of vision impairment.
You can find a factsheet about the role of the Qualified Teacher of Vision Impairment (QTVI) on the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) website.
You can find a factsheet about the role of the Qualified Teacher of Deaf Children and Young People (QToD) on the British Association of Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People (BATOD) website.
You can read a factsheet about the role of the Qualified Teacher Multi-Sensory Impairment (QTMSI).
Our teachers work in homes, nurseries, schools and colleges to offer support to children and young people including:
- specialist assessment and report writing
- direct teaching and intervention
- monitoring and advisory support
Specialist Teaching Assistants
Our Specialist Teaching Assistants have:
- additional expertise in the educational support of children and young people who are deaf, have a hearing loss and/or vision impairment
- specific additional training in British Sign Language or Braille
Qualified Habilitation Specialist
Our Habilitation Specialist is trained and qualified in enabling the independence and development of children and young people with vision impairment, especially those who are severely sight impaired or registered blind. Provision includes mobility and independent living skills in educational settings, at home and all aspects of daily life.
You can find more information about the role of a Qualified Habilitation Specialist on the Habilitation VI UK website.
Specialist IT and Modifications Lead for vision impairment
This role leads on the assessment and provision of specialist technology and modified learning resources for children and young people with vision impairment.
Specialist Resources Technician for vision impairment
This role provides a specialist resourcing service for the modification of educational learning and examination materials for children and young people with vision impairment.
