Specialist Teacher support can be requested to offer guidance and advice for Children and Young People (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND.)

The Specialist Teacher Support Request process has replaced our advice sessions and SEND Requests.  

Specialist Teacher Support Requests

Once the request for support form has been received, a Specialist Teacher will contact the requestor/setting to arrange a consultation at the appropriate time and date.  Only completed requests with consent can be actioned.

When completed, the following documents should be emailed securely to ehcenquiries@buckinghamshire.gov.uk. See below for additional information that may be required.

• the completed, signed Specialist Teacher Support Request Form as a Word document   
• the CYP's SEND support plan / EHCP (if applicable)  

Inclusion Specialist Teacher

If support from an Inclusion Specialist Teacher relating to a SEND need is required for a CYP attending a mainstream maintained school, a Specialist Teacher Support Request Form should be completed. SEND need could include, but is not limited to:

• autism
• language
• physical disabilities
• Down syndrome
• cognition and learning

The requestor is responsible for gaining consent from the parent/carer for a consultation with the Specialist Teacher. 

Vision Impairment 

Requests for support from the Specialist Teachers are typically received from health professionals following a formal diagnosis. Support can also be requested by schools and settings, parents/carers, and other professionals.   

A Specialist Teacher Support Request Form should be completed. The requestor is responsible for gaining consent from the parent/carer for a consultation with a Specialist Teacher.   

Additional evidence is required. 

• medical evidence of vision impairment  

Hearing Support  

Requests for support from the Hearing Support Specialist Teachers are typically received from Audiology departments or ENT professionals following the diagnosis of hearing loss.  

Support/advice can also be requested by schools and settings, parents/carers, and other professionals, for example, for glue ear.     

A Specialist Teacher Support Request Form should be completed. The requestor is responsible for gaining consent from the parent/carer for a consultation with a Specialist Teacher. 

Additional evidence is required. 

• medical evidence of hearing loss   

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD): 

Buckinghamshire Hearing Support Specialist Teachers do not currently provide direct support for children and young people with APD and normal hearing levels. 
 
If a deaf child has also been diagnosed with APD, we can provide our usual levels of support. 

Aimed at practitioners the Local Area Position Statement for APD is designed to improve the consistency of approach amongst professionals and reduce uncertainty for families. 

Multi-Sensory Impairment  

CYP need a formal diagnosis for hearing loss and vision impairment. 

A CYP will be offered support if they are already entitled to support from the Hearing Support team and the Vision Impairment team and meet the criteria according to the NatSIP Eligibility Frameworks.  

In the event of any substantial rise in the statutory workload of Specialist Teachers, we must prioritise our statutory obligations.