What is sensory impairment?
The term sensory impairment means a diagnosis of:
- Vision impairment
- Deafness or hearing loss
- Multi sensory impairment (which means having a diagnosed vision and deafness or hearing loss with at least a mild loss in each sense. This is also called Dual Sensory Loss or deafblindness).
Please note:
We use the term ‘deaf’ to refer to all types of clinically diagnosed hearing loss from mild to profound. This includes deafness in one ear or temporary hearing loss such as glue ear. We are happy to use the terminology chosen by families or young people where they indicate a preference for an alternative term such as hearing loss/hearing impaired.
Peterborough City Council Sensory (Hearing/Vision) and Physical Support Service (SAPS)
What is the Sensory and Physical Support Service?
The Sensory and Physical Support Service at Peterborough City Council is part of the SEN and Inclusion Service (SENI). We are a team of specialist teachers and support staff. We work to ensure children and young people who have a vision, hearing and/or physical disability and their families:
- can explain and understand their needs
- feel positive and confident
- know what support they may access
We also support people who work with the children and young people.
You can find out more about what we do on our page.
Deafness/Hearing loss - helpful resources
The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, Paediatric Audiology Service
The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, Paediatric Audiology Service provides hearing assessment and advice for children for whom there is concern about hearing. They can assess children aged 9 months old to 16 years old and will require a referral from your child’s GP, Health Visitor, School, Paediatrician or Speech Therapist. For those who are 16 years or older, the GP can assess and refer to services as needed.
More organisations and resources
More organisations and resources that you might find useful.
National Deaf Childrens Society
Vision impairment - helpful resources
Useful resources
On this tab are some organisations and resources that you might find useful.
The Peterborough Hubs
About the hubs
We work closely with the Peterborough Hub schools that have centres of expertise for hearing, vision and physical disabilities.
These schools have staff with additional skills and knowledge in a specific area of special educational need and may be able to offer support to professionals and families.
These centres do not offer initial assessments of children’s needs.
Details of the Peterborough Specialist Hub Network can be found on Education page.
Multi sensory impairment - helpful resources
Bringing books to life
Stories with Symbols have produced a series of videos to help children with speech, language and communication needs.