Access and Assistive Technology Team – Specialist IT Advisory Service

Service Information:

We visit children and young people (0-25) in Preschool settings, schools and colleges in and beyond Somerset.

We provide information to children and young people, parents, carers and staff about the use of and alternative methods of recording.

General school advice for up-to-date information about the very latest software/applications that could support all levels and abilities of their learners.

Advice around using the latest technology in the classroom for pupils with SEN who may have a differentiated curriculum.

Advice to families for using technology in their home for homework and revision.

Direct teaching sessions with pupil and setting staff for access to the curriculum using technology.

Service Criteria to include in the EHA:

Criteria to access this service, should be referred to and can be found below and/or on the Support Services for Education website.

The below information is required in addition to the information already requested in the EHA.

Section 4:

We only require details of the child/young person being referred but you may complete the whole section to provide wider contex

 

Section 6:

We only need to know professionals who are directly involved with the child/young person you are referring.

 

Section 7:

IT Assessment:

What is the child/young persons current method of recording hand writing/typing/scribe/other/none?

Why is their current method of recording not working?

What strategies have been tried for alternative methods of recording?

What hardware is available for the child/young person to use in the classroom such as laptop/tablet?

What software/applications are available and been tried for the child/young person?

What specialist IT equipment is available in the setting such as alternative keyboards and mouse?

NB – For those children who are still working toward emergent writing skills, and therefore the referrer cannot fill in the required questions in Section 7, please indicate that you have spoken to the Specialist IT Advisor, and that they have agreed that the referral is appropriate. Please include the date that the discussion took place and the information discussed, around the needs of the child/young person.

 

Section 9:

Use the drop-down menu to select Access and Assistive Technology Team, Specialist IT Advisory Service.

Contact Details:

Email address for completed EHA’s: InclusionSENRequests@somerset.gov.uk
Email advice for pre-referral advice: CYPspecialistservice@somerset.gov.uk