MSSS

Hello and welcome to the home page of the Manchester Sensory Support Service (MSSS).

Manchester Sensory Support Service

Our Service supports children and young people in Manchester, with a hearing or vision need, and their families, from birth to leaving school. We work with Nurseries and state-funded schools to share information, provide advice and develop good practice for children and young people with a sensory need.

The Service is composed of specialist Teachers and Teaching Assistants, Mobility and Rehabilitation Officers, Hearing Technicians, Resource Officers and Family Support Workers. Together we seek to improve both social and academic outcomes for children and young people with sensory needs in Manchester. We work closely with the health service and other organisations to achieve this aim.

Go to our Events Supported by Our Service page to find out about things that are going on throughout the year with the Manchester Sensory Support Service. There are lots of events of benefit to both children with hearing or vision needs their parents and carers, these events are advertised on our Hearing or Vision Loss - Children and Family Activities page.

Our Vision
The Manchester Sensory Support Service strives to be an outstanding provider for children and young people with sensory impairments from birth to 19 years of age.

Through innovative teamwork we aim
to improve upon the academic and social outcomes for children and young people with sensory impairments in Manchester. To work in partnership with parents and carers to empower them to support and promote their child's development. To build capacity in the areas of knowledge, understanding and good practice, in all settings in which the children and young people with sensory impairments are based, in order that they receive the support they require to achieve their full potential. To continually improve the knowledge and skills of the staff to more effectively and efficiently meet the needs of the children and young people, their families and the settings in which they are placed. To use a multi-agency working approach to ensure the children and young people with sensory impairments are fully supported at all stages of their development. To share information about the Service through a variety of media, including information leaflets, the Manchester SENCO network, a parents & carers newsletter and the Lancasterian Specialist School and Organisation website.

We will achieve this by
promoting high, realistic expectations of the outcomes for our children and young people. Progress and achievement will be measured and recorded and used to set future inspirational targets. Improving our communication with parents & carers by offering support, training and sharing our expectations of their children and young people throughout their early years and schooling. Developing the use of service level agreements with all settings involved in the education of children and young people with sensory impairments. These agreements will clearly outline the responsibilities of all relevant professionals involved in supporting the children. Regularly reviewing the staffing structure of the service and providing training and continuous professional development opportunities for all staff to ensure the service continues to meet the needs of the children and young people with sensory impairment, their families and the settings in which they are based. Extending our links with other agencies who work to support children and young people and adults with sensory impairments and to further develop a joined-up approach with shared expectations and smooth transitions at key stages of development. Developing the media through which information about the Service we provide can be shared and through which communication within the Service can be improved.

Please do follow our links in the left hand pane to find out more detailed information about our service, for living and working with a sensory need and possible sources of additional information and support.

If you have any questions, please use the 'contact us' link to get in touch.

Enjoy your visit to our website pages!

Tony Bowyer
Head of Manchester Sensory Support Service