Visual Impairment Team

How we can help you

• Advice to families and carers, early years settings, schools (including specialist provision) about practical and educational implications of the child/young person's visual impairment
• Practical and/or emotional support for families
• Guidance on access to the curriculum (including the sensory/experiential curriculum)
• Assess functional vision
• Direct teaching and training for parents and other professionals
• Support the development of independence skills and the social and emotional well-being of a child/young person
• Monitor progress and contribute to target setting
• Involvement in early identification and assessment of children and young people with visual impairment in accordance with the SEND code of practice
• alternative methods of access for example providing braille or modified resources
• Mobility assessment and training
• Peer awareness training
• Advice about accessing specialist resources (enlarged books, touch typing programmes, writing slopes, access technology)
• Environmental audits with advice on improving visual accessibility
• One-off advice following assessment where the child or young person doesn't meet the criteria for on-going support
• Signposting to other organisations (including on-going liaison with relevant organisations and running joint events as appropriate)
• Enhanced support for pupils/families/schools at key times (transition)
• Registration of visual impairment visits

We work closely with the following organisations and professionals:

• Royal Eye Infirmary
• Other health professionals, for example paediatricians
• SENCos (Special Educational Needs Coordinators) and Inclusion Leaders
• Teaching and support staff in schools and settings
• Speech and Language therapists
• Educational Psychologists
• Other SEND professionals
• Volunteers (for example RNIB, Moorvision)
• Paediatricians
• Adult rehabilitation teams
• Sensory Solutions

Training offer and support

We offer training courses for parents, teachers, teaching assistants and other professionals. For more information and a copy of our latest training calendar, contact louise.woodhead@plymouth.gov.uk.

How to request support

To access our services, a Request for More Help form will need to be completed. For education settings, this usually follows a consultation between the PATSS link person assigned to the school and the Special Educational Needs Coordinator at the school.

Download and complete the Request for More Help form (PDF) [361KB]

Once completed, the Request for More Help form must be sent via email to AccessEarlyHelp@plymouth.gov.uk 

It is essential that the Request for More Help form reflects the steps already taken, following a Graduated Approach to Inclusion.

We might not accept the request if there is insufficient evidence of needs and steps already taken.

Plymouth also has an Early Help and SEND Advice Line through which you can book a conversation with a Family Support Worker to talk about any worries or questions you may have.

Further reading and resources

Resources for parents and carers

• Latest newsletter (PDF) [813KB]
• Plymouth VI Network Booklet (PDF) [1MB]
• Role of the QTVI (PDF) [77KB]
• Telling Stories Through Touch (PDF) [145KB]
• Your Future Your Choice (PDF) [1MB]
• CFVI - a guide for parents (PDF) [1MB]

Resources for schools and settings

• Latest newsletter (PDF) [813KB]
• RNIB Access to Education (PDF) [259KB]
• VI Friendly Classrooms (PDF) [83KB]
• NatSIP Guidance for Support Staff (PDF) [414KB]
• Choosing Books (PDF) [430KB]
• CFVI Framework (PDF) [1MB]

Useful links

• RNIB
• Guide Dogs
• Nystagmus Network
• The Way We See It - YouTube
• Positive Eye
• RNIB Bookshare
• CustomEyes

Is the information correct?

Let us know if the information on this page is wrong and needs to be updated.

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