Sensory support services

Lambeth Sensory Support services provides specialist knowledge to support the education of children and young people and their families who have a hearing, visual or multi-sensory impairment from birth to 25 years of age.

We work with:

  • children and young people, parents and carers
  • teachers and support staff in schools and colleges
  • professionals in education, health, social care, community and voluntary organisations  

The type of support we offer includes:

  • home support for preschool children and families and advice and information on sensory impairment, like help choosing the right school or college
  • classroom, and learning access support, assessment and monitoring
  • advice and information on assistive technologies - equipment and software that helps people overcome sensory barriers

Contact us

Hearing support - telephone: 020 7926 9061 or email: HIadmin@lambeth.gov.uk

Visual support - telephone: 020 7926 9062 or email: VIadmin@lambeth.gov.uk

Postal address:

Lambeth Sensory Support Services 
London Borough of Lambeth
PO Box 80771
London
SW2 9QQ

Hearing support 

All babies are given hearing tests at birth. Hospitals refer to us if they discover hearing loss or deafness. If you think a hearing problem hasn’t been spotted, speak to your health visitor, doctor (GP) or a school nurse or teacher. If tests show hearing loss or deafness, they contact us and a hearing expert from our service will work closely with an NHS expert.

The NHS will assess hearing levels, fit hearing aids and help children use them. Our expert will assess what help they need to hear better at school and home and may offer radio systems or other listening devices at your child’s nursery or school.

We help children and young people to:

  • understand and accept their hearing loss or deafness
  • look after and use equipment well
  • learn listening skills, language and learning
  • meet other deaf children, young people and adults
  • become happy, confident and independent individuals

We help families and carers with 

  • language development to help them communicate better with their child or young person
  • support and advice on EHC assessment and choosing the right school or college
  • talking to professionals about hearing issues

We help nurseries, schools and colleges with:

  • training, advice and support for staff 
  • advice on room acoustics and help in developing a good listening environment
  • supporting changes from playgroups, to nurseries, to schools and to colleges

Visual support 

Like hearing problems, most visual problems are discovered at birth or by two years old and the child will be referred to us. If you think a problem hasn’t been noticed, speak to your health visitor or doctor (GP). 

Children’s vision is tested again when they have started school. If a problem is picked up and glasses will help you will need to take them to an optician. NHS eye checks and glasses are free for children and young people under 19 who are in full-time education.

If there’s a problem with their eyesight that can’t be improved with glasses, the optician will suggest a referral to a specialist eye clinic. They will check if there’s a visual impairment, a sight loss that can’t be helped with glasses or contact lenses. If an impairment is found, a child or young person is referred to us.

Visual impairments can delay a child’s development, communication, mobility and everyday living skills, so it’s important to get help as early as possible.

 

We help children and young people to:

  • understand and accept their visual barriers
  • look after and use equipment well
  • learn to read using books in large print or using Braille
  • develop independent mobility skills.
  • meet other children, young people and adults with visual impairments
  • become happy, confident and independent individuals

We help families and carers with: 

  • using the right play activities and finding accessible books and toys.
  • information on eye conditions, support groups and social events
  • support and advice on EHC assessment and choosing the right school or college
  • talking to professionals about visual barriers

We help nurseries, schools and colleges with:

  • training, advice and support for staff including specialist skills like Braille and touch typing
  • adapting teaching materials into large print, Braille and Moon and changes to the classroom
  • supporting changes from playgroups, to nurseries, to schools and to colleges