Hearing and vision specialist support for children and young people
Contents
- Hearing
- Vision
Vision
We can provide a variety of support, assess your child or young person’s needs and help plan for the future with an individualised profile.
Children and young people
The child or young person can be directly supported with:
- teaching of specific skills
- access to learning through specialist equipment
- social-emotional and well-being needs relating to their vision impairment
- self-advocacy skills
- preparing for adulthood
- peer group events
- enrichment opportunities
Parent and carers
Support includes:
- advice and support from our Hearing and Vision Specialist Team
- training in the use of specialist equipment
- family groups and enrichment opportunities
Educational settings
Support includes:
- Initial advice and vision awareness training
- assessment, identification of need and planning for development
- IT, specialist equipment and resources to help access learning
- accessing arrangements and recommendations to facilitate independent learning
- direct support in line with the Curriculum Framework for CYP with Vision Impairment to promote positive outcomes
- advice for exam access arrangements
- the best ways to make reasonable adjustments to the school’s physical environment
Eligibility
Children or young people who have a vision loss (identified by health) that cannot be corrected using glasses or contact lenses.
Babies and children up to 4 (regardless of education setting) are supported by us.
For those of school age and over, specialist hearing and vision support is available for those in formal educational settings - this service is not available to those who are being home educated.
If the child or young person doesn't meet our eligibility criteria, we can still take a look at the case on an individual basis at a panel and then inform you of the outcome.
Apply
You need to include information from an optician or ophthalmologist specialist in the referral confirming a vision loss. Reports from ophthalmology must be attached.
We will contact you within 2 weeks of a new referral during term time - but this will take longer during the school holidays.
We will contact you within 2 weeks of a new referral by phone or email.
Other support
- Royal National Institute of Blind People
- VICTA - Children and young adults who are blind or partially sighted
- Thomas Pocklington Trust
Last updated 13 June 2025