Vision and hearing

A newborn child should receive vision and hearing tests before leaving the hospital. Your health visitor will do an eye check observation at 6 to 8 weeks. When your child starts school they will have hearing and eye tests.

If at any point you think there is a vision or hearing issue that has not been picked up, you can speak to a school nurse or your GP.

Support from Berkshire Sensory Consortium Service

Berkshire Sensory Consortium Service provides support for hearing impairment, visual impairment and multi-sensory impairment.

Children aged 5 and under

They provide:

• a home based education programme for pre-school children who have a diagnosed sensory impairment.

• pre-school groups with opportunities to meet families, specialists and children with sensory impairment

Children aged 5 and over

They:

• provide assessment, training, support, and specialist equipment for children in schools in Wokingham Borough
• work with other health professionals and Wokingham Borough Council to create individualised support programmes for children and young people

Find out more about these services on the Berkshire Sensory Consortium website.

Support for visual impairments

Berkshire Vision is a local charity that provides support, sports and activities to visually impaired children, adults, and their families.

To find more local support organisations, visit the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s Sightline Directory.

Support for hearing impairments

Some of our mainstream nurseries and schools are acoustically treated. This means the rooms have been adapted to create a better listening environment. Find out more on education options for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Berkshire Deaf Children's Society is a local charity that provides help and support to deaf and hearing-impaired children and their families.

Support for multi-sensory impairments

Sense is a national charity that supports children and adults who are deafblind or have complex disabilities.

More support

If your child is aged 5 years and under, you can get support from Dingley's Promise. They hold stay and play sessions for children with SEND in Wokingham Borough.