The Children's Sensory Team (CST)

We work with children and young people from birth to 25 years, with hearing and / or vision impairment. We can work in homes, play-groups, nurseries, schools and colleges.

We also run events, including Courses and Meetings

You can watch our video about the service in British Sign Language (BSL)

What does the service provide? 

We are qualified teachers with experience of working in mainstream and special schools. All CST teachers are either in training for or hold the specialist qualifications in hearing impairment or vision impairment. The team also includes other specialist sensory staff with additional qualifications. 

We can: 

  • offer support and advice to families about their child's sensory impairment 
  • provide assessments regarding the child or young person's sensory impairment 
  • provide advice and strategies to support learning and development 
  • provide specialist equipment when needed 
  • teach Braille and British Sign Language as appropriate 
  • train teachers and other professionals about sensory impairment 
  • liaise with parents and other professionals 
  • provide awareness-raising sessions for peers 
  • attend meetings and reviews 
  • signpost families to other services 

How do I access the service? 

We have an open referral system. This means that a child or young person, parents/carers and professionals can refer to us.

To be eligible for a referral, the person must:

  • have vision impairment or vision difficulties or hearing impairment or hearing difficulties 
  • be between 0 and 25 years old
  • live in Harrow 

or

  • live in a different local authority but attend a Harrow educational setting and not have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) 

Once referred, a specialist teacher will assess the young person. The assessment will help decide if support is required from the Children's Sensory Team (CST). It will also help decide the level of support required.

CST Support in Colleges

If the young person meets the following criteria their college will provide the required support: 

  • a Harrow resident 
  • aged between 16- 25  
  • attends a Further Education College  
  • does not have an EHCP

Alternatively their college can request to buy in the CST services.

Independent educational settings must pay for the service received from the CST. A service can only be offered if the CST has capacity to provide this service.

Request a referral  

Request a referral to the Children's Sensory Team:

CST Referral and Consent Form

Provide an updated medical consent:

CST Medical Consent Form

Harrow Children's Sensory Team (CST) Charges 

In most cases the CST services are free for Harrow’s young people who meet the required criteria. Unless the child fits either of the following descriptions: 

  • The child is a Harrow resident, who attends an independent school and does not have an EHCP. The educational setting will have to pay for the CST services. 
  • The child is a Harrow resident, who attends a further education college and does not have an EHCP. The college will have to pay for the services 

If a child in your education setting meets either of the above and they require support please complete this request form  

Further information on Children's Sensory Team

What to do if you think your child has a hearing or vision impairment?

If you are worried about your child’s hearing, take them to your GP. They will be referred to the local audiology department and tested for a diagnosis.

If you are worried about your child’s vision, visit an optician. You can also seek ask your GP for a referral to an eye specialist.

What are the signs that a child has a problem with their hearing?

If a child has one or more of the following signs it is possible that they are finding it harder than usual to hear.

 

The child:

  • doesn’t seem to hear their name
  • says ‘eh?’ or ‘what?’ more than would usually be expected
  • responds slowly to instructions or requests
  • is often off task or inattentive
  • gives inappropriate answers to questions
  • asks for repetition or clarification of verbal instructions
  • daydreams or withdraws from situations
  • has difficulties interacting with peers
  • intently watches the face when someone is speaking
  • turns their head to listen
  • watches other children / people for visual clues
  • responds incorrectly or inappropriately to requests
  • has obvious difficulties with speech
  • misses out parts of words in writing or speech
  • misses the final ‘s’ in speech or writing
  • confuses speech sounds, such as  ‘d’ and ‘g’ or ‘t’ and ‘k’
  • has difficulty learning and remembering new words
  • has poor or limited vocabulary for their age
  • has unusually loud or quiet speech
  • lacks concentration
  • has difficulty in reading and spelling.

What are the signs that a child has a problem with their sight?

If a child has one or more of the following signs it is possible that they are struggling to see:

 

Generally:

  • rubs their eyes excessively
  • complains of aches, pains or soreness in the eyes
  • has recurrent inflammation, discharge or other eye problems
  • has noticeable eye movement problems, squint etc
  • is sensitive to bright light
  • is excessively clumsy, for example falling over objects or bumping into doorways
  • finds it hard to see things that are poorly contrasted

 

While doing close work:

  • shuts or covers one eye
  • squints, blinks or frowns
  • significantly tilts their head or thrusts their head forward when working
  • holds reading material closer than the majority of children
  • has difficulty copying
  • confuses letters of a similar shape
  • reverses letters, syllables or words
  • reading is slower than spelling
  • reading of prose is less accurate than reading of single words or letters

 

While working at a distance:

  • moves forward to view information on a board, book or television
  • finds it very hard to copy from the board
  • has difficulty catching a ball in PE

 Children's Sensory Team Staff roles

Your child may meet a variety of professionals in the Children’s Sensory Team. Here is an explanation of their job titles and how they will support your child.

Advisory Teacher of Children with Vision Impairment

An Advisory Teacher of Children with Vision Impairment is a teacher with an additional qualification with children and young people with vision impairment. We can work with families and schools for children from birth to age 25

Advisory Teacher of Children with Hearing Impairment

An Advisory Teacher of Children with Hearing Impairment is a teacher with an additional qualification with children and young people with hearing impairment. We can work with families and schools  educational settings for children from birth to age 25

Audiology Technician

Audiology Technicians work with the advisory teacher. They order, maintain and troubleshoot your child’s additional educational audiological equipment. For example assistive listening devices. If your child needs this, the advisory teacher for hearing impairment will refer your child accordingly. They will also consult with you. Please note the hospital has responsibility for your child’s hearing aids.

Sign Language and Communication Tutor

The Sign Language and Communication Tutor’s role is to help facilitate the development of total communication and signing skills with your child, peers, the family and school staff. If your child needs this input the advisory teacher for children with hearing impairment will refer your child to access this additional service in consultation with you. The tutor can work both at home with preschool aged children and in the educational placement with school age children and young people.

Resource Technician

A Resource Technician provides specialist equipment, modified large print or braille books and tactile resources where appropriate to help your child access the curriculum. If your child needs this input the advisory teacher for vision impairment will refer your child to access this additional service in consultation with you.

Habilitation Specialist

A Habilitation Specialist can help develop your child’s mobility, navigation and independent living skills. The habilitation specialist will assess your child’s current independence skills and identify what are the next steps to increase their independence. If your child needs this input the advisory teacher for children with vision impairment will refer your child to access this additional service in consultation with you.

Children's Sensory Team Events 

Courses for young people and/ or their families 

  • Pre-school sensory group sessions
  • Currently, courses for parents are advertised via email.  Find out more by emailing CSTBusinessSupport@harrow.gov.uk or contact your CST teacher directly.

Courses for professionals 

CHSWG meetings 

(Children’s Hearing Services Working Group) 

CHSWGs ensure that the services for deaf children and their families in your area work together to provide the best support possible. They are based in health authority areas in England. NDCS also attends many CHSWG meetings. 

All meetings are via MS Teams links and are scheduled to run between 10am to 12pm and meet three times a year. 

If you are a parent or carer please register here to join the CHSWG meetings

If you would like to ask a question please submit it via the CHSWG online form

Additional resourced provision 

Harrow schools with additional resourced provision for children and young people with hearing impairment 

There are no additionally resourced schools in Harrow for children and young people with vision impairment.