Pre-school children with sensory impairments
Specialist teachers can provide advice and useful strategies if you have a pre-school child who has a hearing impairment, visual impairment or a multi-sensory impairment (hearing and visual impairment).
For children who need specialist support to learn through play, a specialist teacher can visit you in your home. They will help your child with communication, sensory play, getting around independently and more.
For pre-school children and their families, the specialist teachers:
- provide information about your child’s sensory impairment
- advise on toys and learning through play
- provide information on modes of communication or tactile approaches
- monitor development and set goals
- offer contact with local support networks
- support your child when starting at pre-school or school
- provide training to pre-schools and schools.
Contact the Specialist Teaching and Learning Service Sensory Service
Go to the Specialist Teaching and Learning Service Sensory Service website to find out about the team and the support they provide for families.
Hearing impairment
- West and North Kent - call Sue Holder on 07825 013351 or email sholder@valence.kent.sch.uk
- East and South Kent - call Jo Clarke on 07825 380152 or email jclarke@valence.kent.sch.uk
Visual impairment
Call Jennie Russell on 07795 151364 or email jrussell@valence.kent.sch.uk
Multi-sensory impairment (deafblindness)
Call Suzanne Wilkins on 07825 013362 or email suzanne.wilkins@valence.kent.sch.uk
Specialist teachers can visit your home if you have a pre-school child who is deaf, blind or deafblind.