The sensory and communication support team offers a service working across Bedford Borough. The Team consists of specialist teachers, specialist teaching assistants, educational communicators and a resource officer/technician. All staff who work with pupils have specialist qualifications e.g. teacher of the deaf, teacher for visually impaired, teacher for autism, braille and sign language qualification, as appropriate.
What we do
The Team supports children who meet referral criteria from time of diagnosis, which can be as early as a few weeks old, to school leaving age.
The Sensory and Communication Support Team staff support pupils with:
- Hearing impairment
- Visual impairment
- Multi-disabled V.I. / Deafblind
- Autism Spectrum Conditions
The aim of the Team is to support parents, carers and school staff in meeting the needs of children with sensory and communication difficulties who meet referral criteria.
Most pupils with a sensory impairment attend their own local school with support and advice from SCST peripatetic team. Some pupils are placed in Special Schools or specialist provisions in Bedford Borough or Central Bedfordshire.
The Specialist Teachers for Autism offer and provide advice for pupils within an educational setting.
Staff from the Team provide a comprehensive range of support for schools in order that pupils’ specialised needs are met. This includes:
- Assessment of pupil’s functional vision/hearing
- Information concerning the educational and social implications of a pupil’s impairment
- Assessment of appropriate mode of communication e.g. Braille, British Sign Language
- Advice on adaptations to the learning environment
- Advice on teaching materials and resources
- Advice on preparation of IEP’s, Intervention Plans and setting of pupil targets
- Written guidelines to schools re. curriculum access, teaching strategies, behaviour management, appropriate technology
- Loan of some specialised equipment e.g. magnification aids, radio aids
- Direct teaching support to assist the development of specialist curriculum areas e.g. speech and language, listening skills, Braille
- Submission of reports and attendance at pupil annual reviews
- In service training for teaching and non-teaching staff; and
- Liaison with other professionals e.g. educational psychologists, social workers
Staff from the Team have national links with other Sensory and Communication Teams.
The team is based at the Child Development Centre in Kempston. This enables very close liaison with colleagues from Health e.g. Consultant Paediatricians, Ophthalmologists, Audiologists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists etc.
Staff from the Team also work closely with voluntary agencies.
How to contact our service
Tel: 01234 718122
Email: scst.cdc@bedford.gov.uk
Please note the Sensory and Communication Support Team work term time only.
Where our service is based
Sensory and Communication Support Team
The Child Development Centre
Hill Rise
Kempston
Bedfordshire
MK42 7EB
Additional links
Local Offer Sites
www.bedford.gov.uk/schools-education-and-childcare/special-educational-needs/send-team/
www.bedford.gov.uk/schools-education-and-childcare/parental-support/send-advice/confidential-and-impartial/