Wandsworth VI Service
email: vi.service@lindenlodge.wandsworth.sch.uk
tel: 020 8780 1801 or 020 8780 9204
fax: 020 8780 1801
The Wandsworth VI Specialist Teaching Service is based at Linden Lodge, in The Lodge Family Centre. The Service works closely with Linden Lodge School to offer a continuum of provision for children with visual impairment, across the whole age and ability range. Families of babies with visual impairment are supported by the VI Service both through home visits and within the playgroup. Children are supported through nursery and in school placement. Whether the choice of parents and carers is for mainstream, a local special school or for Linden Lodge, a member of the Service Team will continue to support the child throughout their school life, in whichever way is most appropriate. Our support extends to the parents and carers as well as to the children themselves. The VI Specialist team consists of six experienced and qualified teachers and a specialist facilitator. They work in outreach services, but also within the Linden Lodge School community.
The Service is involved in the school in a number of ways including:
• Links with the Early Years Team
• Supervising Counselling work in the school
• Input into Senior Management
• Induction of new staff
• Supporting inclusion links with other schools
• Organising termly Open Days for parents and professionals
• Organising a yearly Fun Day for Service and Linden Lodge families
• Supervising Counselling work in the school
• Input into Senior Management
• Induction of new staff
• Supporting inclusion links with other schools
• Organising termly Open Days for parents and professionals
• Organising a yearly Fun Day for Service and Linden Lodge families
Families from Linden Lodge and the Service come
together at our Annual Fun Day. The Service also
sends out newsletters to pass on useful information
for families of children with visual impairment and
provides a point of contact for all the families we
support.
The Service runs the Linden Lodge/VI Service Inclusive Playgroup, which is held every Thursday in the Family Centre. Babies and young children who have a visual impairment and often other needs, come with their parents/carers to play and learn in a small friendly group. We have a garden play area and we have access to Linden Lodge facilities, such as the hydrotherapy pool and The Harris Centre.
The Service runs the Linden Lodge/VI Service Inclusive Playgroup, which is held every Thursday in the Family Centre. Babies and young children who have a visual impairment and often other needs, come with their parents/carers to play and learn in a small friendly group. We have a garden play area and we have access to Linden Lodge facilities, such as the hydrotherapy pool and The Harris Centre.
Functional Vision Assessments, Hearing Assessments
and Deafblind Assessments are held in the Lodge, as
well as Parents Meetings and University of Birmingham
Regional Tutorials.
We believe that this close co-operation between school and service is unique in offering the best opportunities for all children with visual impairment to achieve their full potential. Children’s needs change over time and the educational environment that is appropriate at one stage may change, as levels of vision and learning needs develop. The school/service partnership enables us to offer a continuum of support to all children with visual impairment and the greatest flexibility of provision according to the individual needs of the child, which may change over time. We are fortunate to have a combined wealth of resources and expertise, linking with therapists, Health and Social Services colleagues, to provide the best quality support services for children with visual impairment and their families.
We believe that this close co-operation between school and service is unique in offering the best opportunities for all children with visual impairment to achieve their full potential. Children’s needs change over time and the educational environment that is appropriate at one stage may change, as levels of vision and learning needs develop. The school/service partnership enables us to offer a continuum of support to all children with visual impairment and the greatest flexibility of provision according to the individual needs of the child, which may change over time. We are fortunate to have a combined wealth of resources and expertise, linking with therapists, Health and Social Services colleagues, to provide the best quality support services for children with visual impairment and their families.