What is a sensory impairment?

A sensory impairment is an impairment affecting hearing and sight or long term health conditions such as epilepsy.

How do we support pupils with a sensory impairment at Rockmount?

At Rockmount, we use a variety of strategies and resources to support our pupils with sensory impairments to ensure all barriers to learning are removed. Below are some of the key strategies used with our pupils. 

• Managed seating plans which ensure pupils with a visual or hearing impairment are sat so they see or hear the staff appropriately
• The use of coloured overlays to support reading
• Encouraging touch and offering tactile experiences
• Encouraging movement in a safe environment with managed risks
• Reducing background noise in the learning environment
• Engaging in secure eye contact during communication 

Below are documents and links to information and resources around supporting children with sensory impairments and their families. 

Links to useful websites

• Croydon Sensory Support Service (CSSS). This service supports the development, access and achievement of children and young people (CYP) with hearing and visual impairments.
• Croydon Sensory impairment service. This service specialises in support for visually impaired, deaf and deafblind people.
• NatSIP, the National Sensory Impairment Partnership is a partnership of organisations working together to improve outcomes for children and young people with sensory impairment. 
• The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), one of the UK’s leading sight loss charities and the largest community of blind and partially sighted people.
• National Deaf Children's Society (they give expert support on childhood deafness, raise awareness and campaign for deaf children’s rights, so they have the same opportunities as everyone else).