Sensory needs team

For visually impaired and Deaf children

The Sensory Needs Team (SNT) is part of the Brighton & Hove Inclusion Support Services (BHISS). It is the council's provision for both Deaf and visually impaired children

The service is staffed by a team of teachers who all hold additional specialist qualifications in hearing impairment and/or visual impairment. We also have an Educational Audiologist, a Family Support Worker and a Mobility Officer. The primary role of the service is to support Visually Impaired (VI) and Deaf children in Brighton & Hove's schools. The Specialist Provision for Deaf Children at Bevendean Primary School is an integral part of our service.

The basic philosophy of the service is to enable children to reach their potential and to take their full place in society.

Find out more about what we do:

• How we support the Deaf and/or Visually impaired child

How to contact us

Brighton & Hove Inclusion Support Service
Sensory Needs Team
Portslade Hub
Mile Oak Road
Portslade
BN41 2PG

phone: 01273 293481

Activities for Deaf Children

Springboard Pre-school group

• second Saturday of every month 
• 10:30am to 11:45am - pre-school age only, siblings welcome
• British Sign Language (BSL) Club 12pm to 1:30pm - school age, siblings welcome
• Talking Hands Coffee Shop and Studio, Hassocks

Families get-together

• third Saturday of every month
• all ages and siblings welcome
• different activity every month
• email Caroline.J.Palmer@brighton-hove.gov.uk

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

• forth Saturday of every month 
• time varies, children aged 13 upwards
• different activity every month
• email Caroline.J.Palmer@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Useful related websites

For deafness

• The National Deaf Children's Society: www.ndcs.org.uk
• Action on Hearing Loss: www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk
• AMAZE - an organisation that supports families of children with special needs in Brighton and Hove: www.amazebrighton.org.uk

For visual impairment

• The Royal National Institute for the Blind: www.rnib.org.uk
• The National Blind Children's Society is a charity providing information, advice, support and services to blind and visually impaired children: www.nbcs.org.uk
• The National Blind Children's Society provide custom-made large print books tailor made and produced in the fint size and format to suit the individual child's eye condition: www.nbcs.org.uk/customeyes
• 'Look Sussex' is a charity created by parents of children with a visual impairment, offering support and advice to families: www.looksussex.co.uk
• The Blatchington Court Trust supports young people with a visual impairment: www.blatchington-court.co.uk