School age children with special educational needs and disabilities

Physical and Sensory Support (PASS) team

Herefordshire Council have a team of professionals who can support children and young people with a hearing impairment, visual impairment and/or a physical disability.

All our teachers have wide experience of mainstream, special schools and early years settings, and all have the appropriate mandatory specialist teaching qualification for working with children with sensory and/or physical needs.

Schools, health visitors and other professionals are welcome to contact the PASS team with referrals.

All of the PASS team's core and statutory work is provided free to early years settings, state-funded schools and colleges of further education.

Children with a visual impairment (VI)

If you are concerned about your child or young person's eyes or vision, please visit an optician or your GP. The earlier a problem is picked up the better. Children can have an eyesight test at any age. They do not need to be able to read, or even speak. You can find out more about eye tests for children on the NHS website.

Herefordshire Council's visual impairment team provides specialist teaching and support for children and young people who have a significant visual impairment. They can also provide mobility and independence training by a qualified rehabilitation officer.

Your child or young person will usually be referred to the visual impairment team by the hospital eye unit. For information about diagnosis visit the Wye Valley NHS Trust's ophthalmology page.

Occasionally your child or young person's school or another professional working with your child may make a referral to the visual impairment team. Speak to your child or young person's class teacher or SENCO if you feel a referral to the visual impairment team is necessary.

Contact the visual impairment team:

Telephone: 01432 261584
Email: viteam@herefordshire.gov.uk
Please note if a visual impairment is suspected, assessment or information should be sought initially from the appropriate NHS Trust.

Find out more about the support available for schools and settings for visual impairment.

Children with a hearing impairment

If you are concerned about your child or young person's hearing, please speak to your health visitor or GP about a referral to Wye Valley NHS Trust's hearing service. You can also visit the NHS page about hearing tests for children.

Herefordshire Council's hearing support team provides specialist teaching and support for children and young people who have a significant hearing impairment.

Your child or young person will usually be referred to Herefordshire Council's hearing support team by the Children's Hearing Centre.

Occasionally schools or other professionals working with your child may need to make a referral to the hearing support team. Speak to your child or young person's class teacher or SENCO if you feel a referral to the hearing support team is necessary.

Contact the hearing support team:

Telephone: 01432 261584
Email: HSTeam@herefordshire.gov.uk

Find out more about the support available in schools and settings for hearing impairment.

Children with a physical disability

Herefordshire Council has a specialist teacher who can offer support to schools to meet the needs of children and young people who have physical disabilities.

Children with significant physical disabilities are usually referred at an early age by the health service, but occasionally schools or other professionals may need to make a referral. Speak to your child or young person's class teacher or SENCO if you feel a referral to the physical disabilities team is necessary.

Contact the physical disabilities team:

Telephone: 01432 261584
Email: pdteam@herefordshire.gov.uk

Find out more about the support available in schools and settings for physical disabilities.

Accessibility in schools

The Equality Act 2010 says that all council-maintained schools and academies must make themselves increasingly accessible so pupils with a disability can benefit as fully as possible from the facilities and learning opportunities available. They cannot discriminate against pupils because of their physical or mental disability, or some medical conditions, like HIV, MS and cancer.

Find out more about accessibility in schools and search for accessible schools on our accessibility in schools page.