Visually Impaired Service

Visually Impaired Service Logo

 

This Education service provides support for all children with a visual impairment in the Tees Valley area covering the Boroughs of Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton. This service is managed by Middlesbrough Council under a joint arrangement with the other boroughs.

The support and guidance is provided to the children and their families from diagnosis of the visual impairment and continues throughout the child's educational career.

Support may take different forms, ranging from a minimal support to enable a child to succeed in a neighbourhood school, to the support offered by resource facilities providing high levels of specialist staff and equipment.

At present the Service operates an open referral system to minimise the risk of a child being disadvantaged by their impairment.

Our range of help varies with individual need and can include:

  • Pre-school visiting at home.
  • Parent and toddler group fortnightly.
  • Support to children in mainstream schools.
  • Support to children in specialist schools.
  • Support to parents and teachers.
  • Liaison with all professionals including medics, social workers, local and national support organisations.
  • Mobility training.
  • Touch typing skills.
  • Awareness raising and training.
  • Holiday opportunities for visually impaired children.

Contact Details

Visual Impairment Service 
Childrens Service for the Visually Impaired 
Sensory Support Centre 
Whinney Banks Primary School 
Fakenham Avenue
MIDDLESBROUGH
TS5 4QQ

TEL: 01642 354353
FAX: 01642 354358 

Lesley-Ann Gallagher - Interim Lead
lesley-ann_gallagher@middlesbroug.gov.uk

Brian Anderson - Senior Advisory Teacher
Brian_Anderson@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Susan Coulton - Advisory Teacher
Susan_Coulton@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Sharon Hull - Advisory Teacher
Sharon_Hull@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Alison Brown - Mobility Officer
Alison_Brown@middlesbrough.gov.uk