The Multi-sensory Impairment (MSI) Specialist Teacher Team is part of Buckinghamshire's SEND Service. The team supports children and young people (CYP) aged 0 to 25 who have a multi-sensory impairment (MSI).

Multi-sensory impairment, sometimes referred to as deafblindness, is a combination of hearing and vision impairments. These create significant barriers to communication, access to information, mobility, learning and independence.

Children and young people do not need to be profoundly deaf or blind to have MSI.

Even where hearing and vision impairments are mild, fluctuating or progressive, their combined effect may significantly affect:

• development
• learning
• communication
• participation in everyday life

The role of Specialist MSI Teachers

The MSI Team provides a specialist advisory service during school term time. MSI Specialist Teachers assess needs, provide specialist advice, training and recommendations.

They work collaboratively with families, educational settings, health professionals and other agencies to support positive outcomes for children and young people with multi-sensory impairment (MSI).

MSI Specialist Teachers support others to understand and meet the needs of the child or young person arising from their combined vision and hearing difficulties. This may include advice relating to:

• communication
• access to information
• sensory development
• independence skills
• environmental adaptations
• access to learning
• social participation
• emotional wellbeing
• the effective use of specialist equipment and assistive technology

Responsibility for delivering educational provision remains with the education provider unless otherwise specified.

MSI Specialist Teachers do not replace the role of class teachers, SENCOs or other setting staff. Their role is to provide the specialist advice, guidance and recommendations needed to enable appropriate provision, inclusion, participation and access to learning for children and young people with MSI.

Qualifications and expertise of MSI Specialist Teachers

MSI Specialist Teachers are qualified teachers. They have additional specialist training and expertise in supporting children and young people with multi-sensory impairment.

The team has specialist knowledge of how combined hearing and vision impairments affect:

• communication and language development
• access to information and learning
• social interaction and emotional wellbeing
• mobility, orientation and independence
• participation in education and everyday life

All MSI Specialist Teachers either hold, or are working towards, the Department for Education-approved Mandatory Qualification in Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI). This is in line with national expectations for specialist MSI services.

The team maintains its knowledge and skills through continuing professional development and works closely with professionals across education, health and social care, including:

• audiology
• ophthalmology
• habilitation
• therapy
• other specialist services

What does the MSI Team do

MSI Specialist Teachers are able to:

• carry out specialist assessments of the impact of combined hearing and vision impairments on:
  • communication
  • learning
  • participation
  • independence
• provide specialist advice, guidance and recommendations to families, educational settings and professionals
• identify barriers to communication, learning, participation and independence
• recommend specialist equipment, technology and environmental adaptations
• support inclusive and accessible educational provision
• contribute specialist advice to statutory assessment and review processes, where appropriate

Who Specialist MSI Teachers support

The MSI Team supports: 

1. babies, children and young people aged 0 to 25 
2. with identified multi-sensory impairments affecting both hearing and vision

Support is available whether a child or young person has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Eligibility for support is determined by the National Sensory Impairment Partnership (NatSIP) Eligibility Frameworks. It applies to children and young people whose identified hearing and vision needs meet the criteria for both the Hearing Support and Vision Impairment services.

Support for children, young people and families

The MSI Team works in partnership with children, young people and families by:

• helping them understand the impact of MSI on communication, learning, independence and daily life
• undertaking specialist MSI assessments to identify strengths, needs and barriers
• supporting the development of communication, independence, mobility, orientation and self-advocacy skills, where appropriate
• helping children and young people express their views, wishes and feelings
• advising on specialist equipment and strategies that can support access at home and in the community
• providing information, advice and signposting to relevant services and support networks
• supporting emotional wellbeing and participation in social, leisure and community activities
• supporting key transitions, including early years, school transfers and preparation for adulthood
• contributing to multi-agency planning where appropriate
• supporting children and young people to achieve their aspirations and positive outcomes

Support for educational settings

The MSI Team supports schools and settings by:

• explaining the educational implications of MSI. This includes its impact on:
  • communication
  • learning
  • access to information
  • mobility
  • independence
  • social participation
• undertaking specialist assessments and observations to identify barriers to learning, participation and independence
• assessing engagement, participation and access to learning
• advising on appropriate provision, reasonable adjustments and curriculum access
• advising on adaptations to curriculum delivery, learning programmes and the school day where appropriate
• recommending environmental adaptations, specialist equipment and assistive technology
• advising on communication approaches appropriate to the child or young person's needs
• supporting staff to track progress, engagement and outcomes
• contributing to SEN Support planning, EHCNAs, Annual Reviews and multi-agency meetings
• delivering MSI awareness and specialist training for staff
• supporting planning for successful educational transitions
• reviewing the effectiveness of strategies and provision
• supporting settings to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to meet the needs of children and young people with MSI

Referring a child or young person

Children and young people may be eligible for support if they meet:

• the Hearing Support (HS) and Vision Impairment (VI) Teams’ eligibility criteria
• the relevant NatSIP Eligibility Framework criteria
• Referrals can be made through:
• audiology services
• ophthalmology services
• schools, colleges and educational settings
• parents and carers
• other professionals working with the child or young person

To request support from the MSI Team, please complete a Specialist Teacher Support Request Form. Please provide relevant clinical information, usually audiology and ophthalmology reports, to establish eligibility and support planning.

Buckinghamshire Integrated Sensory Service (BISS)

Some children and young people supported by the MSI team may also benefit from services provided by the Buckinghamshire Integrated Sensory Service (BISS). Buckinghamshire Council works in partnership with BucksVision to provide the Buckinghamshire Integrated Sensory Service (BISS).

BISS supports children, young people and adults with hearing loss, vision impairment and dual sensory loss.

Services provided by BISS include:

• assessments to promote safety and wellbeing
• enablement services to maximise independence
• specialist equipment assessment and provision
• habilitation services for children and young people
• information, advice and guidance for individuals, families and carers
• registration of sensory loss to enable access to relevant services and benefits

Get in touch

Contact information for the Specialist Teacher teams for details of specialist services and team contacts.  

Multi-sensory Impairment team

You can contact the MSI team by email at ehcenquiries@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Buckinghamshire Integrated Sensory Service (BISS)

You can contact BISS by: 

• Email: biss@bucksvision.co.uk
• Phone: 01296 479970

SEND Support Line

You can contact the SEND support line and request a MSI callback on 01296 382135.