Our team uses a positive approach, focusing on what a child or young person can do. We offer advice and guidance, appropriate for the child or young person’s age and needs (in line with the SEND code of practice) and Devon’s Ordinarily, Available and Inclusive Provision (OAIP).

Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision (OAIP)

Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision (OAIP) describes the inclusive provision and practice that all Devon schools, early years, and post 16 settings should be able to provide for all children and young people, including those with SEND, from within their own resources. This will support all children and young people to attend, engage and thrive in their educational setting.

It describes approaches, provision and practice that is ‘helpful to all, harmful to none and crucial for some’.

The following link will provide more information about Devon’s Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision (OAIP) frameworks.

Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision – Support for schools and settings (devon.gov.uk)

Alongside the OAIP the team provide specialist provision to meet individual need.

Specialist

Team core offer

Pre-school children

• Provide direct support to children 0-4 and their parents/carers in the home and/or early years setting to support early development through play and learning using  Developmental Journal for Vision Impairment.
• Offer support & ideas on how to create a suitable learning environment in early years settings.
• Provide advice on resources and strategies that will support and develop visual stimulation.

Schools and colleges

• Offer advice on teaching strategies to develop independent learning.
• Support and training for school staff on how to adapt & modify teaching & learning resources to ensure access to the curriculum.
• Provide advice on exam access arrangements.
• Provide specialist training for staff to raise awareness of vision impairment.
• Demonstrate teaching strategies/model good practice.
• Use the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI) to support children and young people with vision impairment access an appropriate and equitable education alongside existing curriculums.

Transition

• Support children and young people through key transition stages, including preparation for adulthood.

Training

In addition to face to face training we also offer online courses that suitable for professionals working with children and young people who have vision impairments. These are available via the following link: Visual, hearing, multi-sensory or physical impairment support | DES (devoneducationservices.co.uk)

How to access support

Requesting support from Sensory Needs and Physical Difficulties team

All requests for support are made using our online form using the link below.

Requests can be made by:

• an educational setting,
• medical professional e.g. Audiologist, Orthoptists, Paediatrician,
• other professionals working with a child or young person e.g. social worker, speech & language therapist, ROVIC, Occupational Therapists

As a service we use the NatSIP eligibility criteria to guide decision-making on the level of support allocated to children and young people.

Please use the following link to request support:

Consent

All requests for support must have a signed consent form. These need to be signed by a parent or carer if the child or young person is under sixteen. Young people over sixteen will need to sign their own consent form. These forms can be downloaded separately below or completed within the main request for support link above:

Consent form for child under 16

Consent form for young person over

For more information, please contact:

Strategic Lead for Sensory Needs and Physical Difficulties Team Lian.Badcock@devon.gov.uk 

Team Lead for Sensory Needs and Physical Difficulties Team Claire.L.Hayter@devon.gov.uk.