Hearing and Vision Support Services (HVSS) provide specialist support to remove barriers to learning to ensure children and young people with hearing loss or low vision reach their full potential both in terms of academic achievement and personal and social development.
The HVSS are a team of Specialist Advisory Teachers with mandatory teaching qualifications in either visual or hearing impairment.
The team includes:
- a vision support technician
- mobility and habilitation officers
- vision support specialist teaching assistant
- an educational audiologist
- hearing support technician and specialist teaching assistant
- sign language support work
- a team office administrator
The team supports children from 0 to 18 years (this is up to age 25 for students with an education, health and care plan). We work with families, early years settings, schools and colleges.
HVSS works across Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council. The teams work in partnership with:
- parents and carers
- education
- social care
- audiology
- ophthalmology
- Speech and Language Therapy
- other health professionals
Hearing Support Service
The Hearing Support Service (HSS) works with children and young people with mild to profound hearing impairments.
Vision Support Service
The Vision Support Service (VSS) works with children and young people with mild to profound vision impairments.