STLS Sensory Service Kent
The STLS Sensory Service changed management on 1st January 2023 and is now centrally managed by Kent County Council. This aims to strengthen multi agency working between KCC agencies.
The STLS Sensory Service is comprised of teachers with the Mandatory Qualification for sensory impairment and other sensory support professionals. They provide services in homes, preschools and schools across Kent and operate from 14 different venues.
The STLS Sensory Service supports children and young people with:
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Hearing impairment
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Vision impairment
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Deafblindness (Multi-Sensory Impairment)
What does the STLS Sensory Service provide?
For children and young people with a sensory impairment:
- We support young children’s development, communication and exploration through specialist sessions with preschool children and their families in the home.
- We build the confidence and capacity of educational settings, schools and colleges to meet sensory needs through information sharing, signposting and training.
- We work to support access to the learning environment, curriculum, communication and information through direct work in preschools and schools including the provision of specialist teaching and equipment.
- We promote independence, resilience and well-being through close liaison with children and young people, their families, health professionals and the commissioning of support for mobility training and specialist activities.
We provide Specialist Teaching for HI, VI and MSI/Deafblindness which may include:
- Assessing functional hearing and/or vision to provide strategies and advice for the preschool or school.
- Supporting and monitoring the development of language or the use of BSL.
- Teaching Braille and supporting access to the curriculum through touch.
- Providing Assistive Listening Devices and supporting the use of amplification.
- Advising on the size of print, differentiation of work and supporting the use of Electronic Magnification Systems.
- Monitoring progress and achievement.
- Delivering training on HI, VI or MSI including the impact of sensory impairment and strategies to support access to learning
