Sensory Needs Service
The Sensory Needs Service (SNS) provides support to deaf and vision impaired (VI) children and young people (CYP) and their families (aged 0 to 25).
We also provide guidance to education settings and other professionals.
The SNS support and promote the inclusion of CYP with VI and deafness in a range of settings. We also have four Deaf Support Facilities (DSF) in East Sussex which support our highest need pupils.
What we offer
After initial assessments, the Sensory Needs Service can support children and young people in a variety of ways:
- Support for children 0 to 5 years old and their families within the home, nursery and childminders settings and pre-school.
- Expert advice and training for all adults working with a CYP who has a deaf and/or VI need.
- Direct teaching for deaf, VI and Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI) CYP in an educational setting.
- Support families to make informed decisions regarding communication methods.
- Mobility training for CYP with a VI or MSI, parents/carers, school staff and other professionals.
- Share resources, advice and strategies that promote inclusive practice and access to the curriculum.
- Assess and provide assistive technology based on eligibility for curriculum access.
- Work in a multi-agency approach to develop the Team Around the Child.
- Support transitions at key points in their educational journey.
- Signpost effectively to a range of different organisations.
* The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) uses the term ‘deaf’ to mean all types of hearing loss, including unilateral deafness and temporary deafness such as glue ear.
Deaf Support Team
Children are often identified as being deaf before they start school, so referrals typically arrive from audiology.
When a child meets criteria, we respond to the referral by first contacting the family and then the educational setting. This might be to request further information or to give advice over the phone and say what the next step is likely to be. An initial visit will often be arranged so we can meet and observe the child at home or their educational setting. We then use nationally agreed criteria for assessing the level of need for each referral.
This is the “Eligibility Criteria for Scoring Support Levels” produced by the National Sensory Impaired Partnership (NatSIP). It comprises of a series of questions with graded responses. A total score is calculated giving a guide as to the level of support that might be needed for each pupil. We also consider our own professional opinion of the level of need and the educational placement of that pupil.
Glue Ear and Unilateral Deafness Policy [335.7 KB] [docx]
Auditory Processing Disorder Policy [226.1 KB] [docx]
National Deaf Children's Society | For every deaf child
Our services - The Elizabeth Foundation for Preschool Deaf Children
British Sign Language - Let's Sign BSL at DeafBooks
Free BSL Lessons for UK Primary Schools – The School of Signs
East Sussex Deaf Children’s Society – Charity Number: 284817
Vision Impairment Support Team
Referrals for children and young people (CYP) with vision impairments come from health, educational settings, and other professionals.
If the CYP meets our criteria for support, we respond by first contacting the family or educational setting dependent on the age of the child.
Criteria for Support:
- Vision Impairment diagnosed by an Ophthalmologist.
- A CYP who has significantly reduced or deteriorating vision in both eyes, which cannot be fully corrected after surgery or with the use of spectacles or contact lenses.
Parental consent must be obtained alongside ophthalmology reports and clinical information. An initial visit will usually be arranged so we can assess the child using the nationally agreed National Sensory Impaired Partnership (NatSIP) criteria.
We also use our professional opinion regarding the level of need and the educational setting the CYPVI attends. For example, where a severely sight impaired CYP is based in a special school, their score may be equivalent to that of a CYPVI in mainstream. The level of support may vary as the strategies used in a special school can often mirror those that we would recommend.
As an authority, we do not have dedicated VI support bases. Where a severely sight impaired CYP needs to use Braille, we can provide a package of support to help them in their mainstream educational setting. They will also receive additional funding.
SNS CVI Policy For Mainstream Settings [62.7 KB] [docx]
VI Top Tips For Parents And Carers [15.9 KB] [docx]
Charities and Organisations
Blatchington Court Trust - Blatchington Court Trust – Supporting young people with sight loss across Sussex
Wheels4All - Eastbourne Wheels for All | Wheels for All — The UK inclusive cycling charity
Defiant Sports -variety of sporting activities for all ages-including Sound Tennis - Welcome to Defiant Sports – Connecting Through Sport
Blind Cricket - Blind Cricket England & Wales – Blind Cricket England & Wales
Boathouse Theatre Arts - Boathouse Theatre Arts | Performing Arts Charity | Hastings
Wilder Life Wellbeing Forest School
Guide Dogs | The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Books For Blind Children and Young People - Living Paintings
DVLCC | Support for Under-Fives with Cerebral Palsy
Look Sussex – Free, fun, family events for VI kids!
Blind in Business Getting blind and partially sighted people into work
The Powell Family Foundation - Blind/Vision-Impaired Child Grants
Nystagmus Network – Supporting people living with nystagmus
RNIB | Homepage of the Royal National Institute of Blind People
About VICTA | Children & young adults who are blind or partially sighted
Multi-sensory impairment (MSI)
MSI is a term the Department for Education use for those who are deafblind. It's also sometimes called 'dual sensory loss' or 'deafblindness'.
Our teacher for MSI works alongside our other specialist teachers to provide a coordinated approach to the needs of the child. We can offer specialist MSI training and support educational setting staff with supporting communication and independence.
You can read more about the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment on the RNIB site:
SNS colleagues
In addition to Teachers of the Deaf and Teachers of CYP with Vision Impairments, the SNS also has a Teacher of CYP with Multi-Sensory Impairment (Deaf blindness).
We also employ three Specialist Teaching Assistants, a Technical Resource Officer and a Habilitation and Mobility Officer.
The Sensory Needs Service does not see children and young people who are electively home educated.
The Sensory Needs Service does not support children with an EHCP attending an independent special school as it will have been stated that they can meet the needs of the child and provision outlined within their Plan There is a charge for visiting children in other independent schools.
Social media
Contact Details
Contact Name: Sensory Needs Service (SNS)
Email: scsn@eastsussex.gov.uk
Sensory needs resources
These resources are for teaching staff, parents and carers.
Hearing impairment
20 top tips for schools with hearing impaired pupils [360.0 KB] [pdf]
Top Tips For Parents And Carers [14.8 KB] [docx]
Fact sheets
These factsheets describe different types of hearing loss and offer strategies for inclusion.
Mild hearing loss [90.0 KB] [pdf]
Moderate hearing loss [88.6 KB] [pdf]
Severe and profound hearing loss [90.9 KB] [pdf]
High frequency hearing loss [89.8 KB] [pdf]
Conductive hearing loss [91.4 KB] [pdf]
Unilateral hearing loss [88.9 KB] [pdf]
Websites
National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) offers advice to parents and professionals working with hearing impaired children.
Videos
- Tips for teaching deaf children with a mild hearing loss
This video explains
- the major impact a mild hearing loss can have on a child in school
- what professionals can do to support a child with a mild hearing loss in their class
- Flintstones hearing loss
This is an audio video clip of different types of hearing loss, and what it sounds like to a child who is not wearing their hearing aids.
- Guide to hearing aid management
Step-by-step instructions from an audiologist on how to change the tubing in a child's hearing aids.
Resources, Toys and Books Promoting Deaf Awareness and Positive Role Models
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Barbie Doll with hearing aids |
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Ken Doll with hearing aids |
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Solid Body Doll with hearing aids |
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Hearing aids for dolls |
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Freddie and the Fairy |
Freddie and the Fairy : Donaldson, Julia, George, Karen: Amazon.co.uk: Books |
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What the Jackdaw Saw |
What the Jackdaw Saw : Donaldson, Julia, Sharratt, Nick: Amazon.co.uk: Books |
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Can Bears Ski? |
Can Bears Ski?: Amazon.co.uk: Antrobus, Raymond, Dunbar, Polly: 9781406394627: Books |
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Quest for the Cockle Implant |
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Dachy’s Deaf |
Dachy's Deaf (Dinosaur Friends) : Hughes, Jack: Amazon.co.uk: Books |
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Jack Signs |
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Super Hearing |
Super Hearing (Super Book Series) : Whitehead, Jennifer, Reymann, Emily: Amazon.co.uk: Books |
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C I Quest |
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Mighty Mila |
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BSL Pocket book |
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Ling Ling Bird |
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Elephant and the Lost Blanket |
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BSL versions of some books, free downloads and additional books also available via the National Deaf Childrens Society (NDCS) |
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Play Mat with BSL |
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Free printable resources and additional books from Let’s Sign |
