Vision Impairment (VI) Team
The Vision Impairment Team is part of the Vision and Hearing Support Service. We provide advice and support for:
- children and students with vision impairment who;
- live or go to school in the Southend-on-Sea Local Authority
Support is given in a variety of settings. It is based on individual need.
Provision can include:
- home-based and pre-school programmes to support children, families and pre-school staff
- visits to mainstream and special schools for assessment, advice, monitoring and to work with students
- recommendations for and provision of specialist equipment and resources
- recommendations and advice for special exam arrangements
- professional development and training for education staff
- links with other agencies
- teaching of Braille or Moon tactile alphabet and touch typing
- habilitation services - orientation and mobility training and independent living skills (ILS). Environmental audits to ensure optimum access
Support provided covers all 11 areas in the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI). View the CFVI here.
The team also co-run Little Sparkles - a group for pre-school age children with a hearing loss and/or vision impairment and their siblings. The group meet twice a month on Wednesdays in term time. The second Wednesday is a Stay and Play group at Prince Avenue Family Centre 10am to 11.30am. The fourth Wednesday is ‘out and about’ with visits to different locations including the Toy Library, StoryRhymes session at the Library, and local parks.
Attendance at the group is by referral only from Teacher of the Deaf or Teacher for Vision Impairment.
How children and young people can access the Vision Impairment Team
Children and young people need to be referred to our service. Referrals can be made by medical professionals (for example, ophthalmologists, orthoptists, pediatricians and ECLO), directly to the Advisory Specialist Teacher for Vision Impairment.
Schools, nurseries and other educational settings can request support from the Vision Impairment Team with parental consent. This can be done by completing the relevant referral form:
- SEN early years referral form
- school referral form
- non-school referral form
If you do not have a copy of the referral form contact the team.
Contact the Vision Impairment Team
Southend-on-Sea City Council, SEND Service, Floor 2 Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6ER
Beatrice Iordachi - Advisory Teacher for Vision Impairment. Email: beatriceiordachi@southend.gov.uk or vias@southend.gov.uk
Lisa Curwood - Habilitation Officer. Email: lisacurwood@southend.gov.uk or vias@southend.gov.uk
Paula Holmes - Specialist Teacher for Multisensory Impairment (MSI) and Specialist Teacher of the Deaf. Email: PaulaHolmes@southend.gov.uk or vias@southend.gov.uk
Information about vision impairment
The team have produced information to support families and professionals.