LINT - Physical/Medical Needs (PMN)
About LINT (PMN)
Children and young people with complex sensory, physical, or medical needs, resulting from congenital conditions, illness, injury or neurological difficulties can be referred to the LINT PMN specialist teacher if their needs cannot be met within school's SEN support resources.
The LINT PMN teacher can provide specialist strategies to support a wide range of needs. The child or young person may be experiencing difficulties with gross or fine motor skills, sensory processing difficulties or medical conditions that need intervention throughout the school day. These needs must be causing a significant barrier to their educational journey. Examples of needs may include chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, chromosome deletions, cancer related conditions and many more.
Referring babies, children and young people be referred to the team
Parents/carers, schools and settings and other professionals can make a referral into LINT PMN by completing the referral form.
Make a referral
Once a referral has been made
Following a referral to LINT (PMN), contact is made with parents/carers, the school setting and background clinical information is sought. Specialist teacher will liaise closely with relevant members of the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Departments, sharing results of assessments, completing joint observational and advisory visits, and sharing information for the benefit of the child or young person.
Intervention varies as it is designed to ensure that the individual and specific needs of each child and young person are met. In some cases, children and young people in schools or settings may be allocated specialist support (through their Education, Health and Care Plan), blocks of intervention or additional resources to help them access the curriculum. This may include the use of assistive technology such as Eye Gaze or Voice to Text technology.
An initial assessment of need will identify the barriers to learning that arise from the physical or medical need.
The initial assessment will identify:
- accessibility in the physical environment - access to the buildings, yard/outside areas, resources within the classroom, rest areas, desk and seating, toilets/changing area and dinner hall
- how the child/young person records their work - is assistive technology needed?
- the impact of the physical or medical need on learning
- levels of independence
- use of the timetable/staffing to access specialist equipment during the school day
- time needed for medical interventions / therapy / intimate care
- specialist strategies needed to break down barriers to learning
- emotional wellbeing
The aim is to provide information about the use of specialist equipment, plan appropriate intervention, promote independence, and advise on individualised approaches in order to access the curriculum.
Interventions that the child or young person with Physical and/or Medical Needs may receive
LINT (PMN) works with babies, children and young people without the need for statutory assessment. LINT (PMN) provides advice and guidance to schools, settings and their staff in order to provide equal access to the curriculum for children and young people with physical and/or medical needs.
LINT (PMN) works with other service providers and third sector partners (e.g. charities) to ensure children and young people have access to mobility training, leisure opportunities, independent living skills training and increased opportunities to develop their social skills outside school. Close links are maintained between parents/carers, the child or young person's school or setting and other involved agencies.
Intervention that the school or setting could receive
LINT (PMN) can support schools in a number of ways, including:
- explaining the nature of the physical and medical needs and the impact this may have on education
- using cycles of Assess, Plan, Do, Review, LINT (PMN) will provide specialist strategies, assess needs, set targets and monitor progress
- providing a range of informal training opportunities to share proven best practice and promote Quality First Teaching
- providing specialist advice on accessibility, manual handling, use of specialist equipment and health and safety issues
- providing advice as part of the needs assessment process for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- supporting teaching sessions either in class or in a one-to-one situation
- researching and applying for funding of specialist equipment as appropriate
- completing environmental advice to ensure the safety and well-being of pupils and promote independence
- advising on appropriate modification techniques to ensure equal access to the curriculum
- ensuring successful entry to school and transition between year groups and key stages
- advising on appropriate access arrangements for internal and external examinations
How LINT (PMN) supports the family
Having a good relationship with the family really helps us to support the child or young person. A successful partnership with parents/carers is the most effective way LINT (PMN) can share information and expertise.
LINT (PMN) can help in a number of ways including:
- helping the family to contact and access other supportive agencies
- supporting the child or young person and their family during physiotherapy or occupational therapy sessions
- supporting the child or young person and their family at multi-disciplinary meetings
- assisting with access to specialist equipment as or when appropriate
- providing access to wheelchair skills training and independent travel training
- encouraging the child or young person's participation in a range of leisure and out of school activities.
Information for schools
The Gateshead SEND Thresholds document identifies appropriate interventions (in line with the NatSIP Eligibility Criteria) according to identified levels of need. This is reviewed on an annual basis or as deemed appropriate by a specialist teacher.
For more documents to support children with physical/medical needs see LINT professionals toolkit. More resources can be found in the support organisations directory.
Information for families
Our support organisations directory has been developed to provide links to organisations who can support those with SEND and their families.
Contact
Amanda Card
SEND Manager - Low Incidence Needs Team
0191 433 8757
If you have any queries, please email [email protected]
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