Documents > Vision and Hearing Team - Referral Pathway (updated June 2026)

Vision and Hearing Team – Referral Pathway (updated June 2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Referrals may come from Audiology, Ophthalmology, Early Years Panel, Portage, Educational Psychology, Health, Education settings or parent/carers.

Referrals are received by the team leader and allocated. Referral forms are available on PCC Local Offer website, Portsmouth Education Partnership website and on request from the Vision and Hearing Team (VHT).
Referrals are accepted in accordance with the VHT Referral Criteria, available on the Local Offer website.
Hearing Impairment (HI) referrals must be from Audiology as the clinical information is required for a teacher of the deaf to be able to work with the child or young person.

Pathway: Hearing Impairment (HI): New born screening programme (from Audiology)

Telephone call to introduce the team within 48 hours and home visit offered for within 10 working days unless it is during the school summer holidays, when a visit will be arranged for when a Teacher of the Deaf is on call. This is usually within 10-15 working days.
A visit will then be arranged when the next Teacher of the Deaf is on call over the summer holidays.
Home visit and consent to share and share/gather information obtained is offered.
Follow up written feedback of visit is shared with parent, Audiology and other professionals as appropriate and consented in accordance with VHT Reporting Policy (available on Local Offer).

Pathway: Hearing Impairment (not new born screening programme) or Visual Impairment (VI) or Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI)

If referral criteria is met (Referral Criteria Policy on Local Offer), telephone contact is made to arrange a visit where possible. If no telephone number is provided, an introductory letter or email is sent. Attempt to contact is made within 5 working days after referral is received by the Vision and Hearing Team.
Visit is offered within 10 days of contact unless in school holidays and a visit will then be offered on immediate return to work. *See additional circumstances.
If the referral is of school age or older, then first visit is usually to the setting.
Parental consent is obtained through the completed VHT referral form from the setting.
Information is gathered from parent/carer and setting and/or other professionals after consent.
If child is referred by Early Years setting or provider and referral form completed with consent, visit will be arranged at setting. A follow up visit to home/parent/carer will be made OR contact will be made with home/parent/carer to gather more information and provide support.
If child is referred by parent or another professional then a decision will be made on whether initial visit will be at home or in setting. A referral form will need to be completed in advance or during initial visit at home to gain consent.
A follow up report or Record of Contact will be shared with parent, setting, and other professionals in accordance with the VHT Reporting Policy (available on the Local Offer).

Frequency of visit to be allocated based on outcome and current needs identified on first visit and guided by NatSIP eligibility framework but informed by current needs identified by Teacher Adviser.
Admin processes followed to update Synergy.
Add child to caseload list or put on request caseload.
If pre school child, refer to Early Years Panel if criteria met.
VI consider if Habilitation Specialist should be involved and refer to Habilitation Specialist.
Referral to other professionals and services with consent if appropriate.

Visits continue, and frequency adjusted when identified as we are a needs led team – joint visits with other professionals as appropriate.

*Additional circumstances

If the new referral is made during the school holidays (other than new born hearing screening), a visit can be offered by the QT over the school summer holidays if circumstances deem necessary. The team member will contact the VHT Team Leader and a joint decision will be made based on individual family circumstances.

For example:

family situation and distress at diagnosis
significant sensory loss (CIN)
child or family on a Child In Need Plan or Early Help support.

Get in touch - tell us what you think

Contact the Portsmouth Send Local Offer to gain help, get more information or to leave feedback about the website.

Get in touch

Top