Specialist Teacher Advisors (STA) referral policy

Policy for referral to the Specialist Teacher Advisors (STA) Team - Hearing and Vision  - June 2021

Referral Policy for deaf pupils 

Most referrals to the Sensory Support team are from hospital based medical professionals. A number of pupils with a hearing impairment also have an additional disability or learning difficulty.

An initial referral to the team can be made by a parent, health, social or educational professional involved with the child, providing a written medical diagnosis has already been obtained.

Classification of Hearing Loss

The hearing loss must be assessed in clinic by a qualified audiologist.  The British Society of Audiology descriptors have been adopted for hearing loss. These descriptors are based on the average hearing threshold levels at 250, 500,1000,2000 and 4000 Hertz in the better ear. No response is taken to have a value of 130 dBHL (hearing loss in decibels).

• Mild hearing loss Unaided threshold 20 – 40 dBHL
• Moderate hearing loss Unaided threshold 41 – 70 dBHL
• Severe hearing loss Unaided threshold 71 – 95 dBHL
• Profound hearing loss Unaided threshold in excess of 95 dBHL

The following may not meet the criteria for referral:

• Conductive hearing impairment (glue ear)
• Unilateral hearing impairment

The following do meet the criteria for referral to the service but may not be placed on the regular caseload and may receive “one off” or “on request” visits, particularly at transition between settings:

• Mild/moderate permanent conductive hearing impairment
• Mild sensori- neural hearing impairment with conductive overlay
• Unilateral hearing loss where the hearing deteriorates in the good ear
• Functional moderate impairment due to auditory neuropathy

All children and young people diagnosed with a sensori-neural moderate, severe or profound hearing loss in accordance with the British Society of Audiology descriptors, meet the criteria for referral.

The procedure following an appropriate referral

• A ‘request for involvement’ form is completed by the referrer and should include a parental signature and medical information indicating hearing loss.
• A qualified Teacher of the Deaf (TOD) makes an initial visit to the school. 

 The TOD will:

Referral Policy for Visual Impairment (VI) pupils 

Most referrals to the Sensory Support team are from hospital based medical professionals. A number of pupils with a visual impairment also have an additional disability or learning difficulty.

An initial referral to the team can be made by a parent, health, social or educational professional involved with the child, providing a written medical diagnosis has already been obtained.

Classification of VI

The following classification applies to corrected vision with both eyes open. The sight loss must be measured by a qualified Orthoptist. The professional judgement of a Qualified Teacher of Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (QTVI) should be applied as necessary to decide on the classification.  For example, a young person may have a mild reduction in visual acuity but be functioning within a different visual category due to an additional ophthalmic condition. This could be Nystagmus, visual field reduction, cerebral visual impairment and/or learning difficulties.

Distance Vision

• Mild vision loss Within the range 6/12-6/18 Snellen/Kay, Logmar 0.3-48
• Moderate vision loss Less than 6/18-6/36 Snellen/Kay, Logmar 0.5-0.78
• Severe vision loss Less than 6/36-6/120 Snellen Kay, Logmar 0.8-1.00
• Profound vision loss Less than 6/120 Snellen/Kay, Logmar 1.02

Near Vision

• Mild vision loss N14 - 18
• Moderate vision loss N18 - 24
• Severe vision loss N24 - 36
• Profound vision loss Educationally blind/Braille user/can access small quantities of print larger than N36

The following do not meet the criteria for referral if there is no associated diagnosed eye condition:

• Monocular vision where sight is within normal limits in the good eye, and stable
• Squints (dealt with by Orthoptists at the Eye Clinic)
• Mild colour deficiency
• Visual perceptual difficulties
• Lack of binocular (or 3D) vision (usually associated with squints or monocular vision)

The following do meet the criteria for referral to the service but may not be placed on the regular caseload and may receive “one off” or “on request” visits, particularly at transition between settings:

Mild vision

• A diagnosed eye condition, such as Nystagmus, even if the acuity is better than 0.5 (6/18)
• Moderate or severe visual field loss, even if the acuity is better than 0.5 Logmar (6/18)
• Moderate or severely reduced near vision, even if the distance acuity is better than 0.5 (6/18)

All children and young people diagnosed with moderate, severe or profound vision loss in accordance with the nationally agreed definitions, meet the criteria for their Visual Impairment.

The procedure following an appropriate referral

• A ‘request for involvement’ form is completed by the referrer and should include a parental signature and medical information indicating vision loss.
• A Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (QTVI) makes an initial visit to the school.

The OTV will:

• Observe the child in class
• Gather information from the class teacher/Teaching Assistant (TA)/Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo)
• Make an initial assessment of the impact the vision loss has on access to the curriculum
• Provide a written report on the visit which is copied to the school and to the  parent/carer.
• Use the NatSIP criteria and professional judgement to decide appropriate level of support
• Add the CHYP to caseload, where appropriate

Review date: June 2024