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The Children's Sensory Team (CST)

We work with children and young people from birth to 25 years, with hearing and / or vision impairment. We can work with them in their homes, play-groups, nurseries, schools and colleges.

You can watch our video about the service in  British Sign Language (BSL).

What does the service provide?

We are a team of qualified teachers with experience of working both in mainstream and special schools. We provide training for specialist qualifications in hearing impairment or vision impairment. The team also includes other specialist sensory staff with additional qualifications.

We can:

  • offer support and advice to families about their child's sensory impairment
  • provide assessments regarding the child or young person's sensory impairment
  • write advice and provide strategies to support children and young people in their learning and development
  • provide specialist equipment when needed
  • teach Braille and British Sign Language as appropriate
  • train teachers and other professionals about sensory impairment
  • liaise with parents and other professionals
  • provide awareness-raising sessions for peers
  • attend meetings and reviews
  • signpost families to other services

How do I access the service?

We have an open referral system. This means that pupils, parents / carers and professionals can all refer to us.

The child or young person being referred must:

  • have a vision impairment or vision difficulties and /or have hearing impairment or hearing difficulties
  • be between 0 and 25 years of age
  • live in Harrow

or

  • live in a different local authority but attend a Harrow educational setting without an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP)

Once referred, the child or young person with sensory impairment will be assessed by a specialist teacher in order to identify if support is required from the Children's Sensory Team.

If the young person is, a Harrow resident of 16- 25 years and attends a Further Education College without an EHCP, their college will provide advice and support or request to buy Children's Sensory Team (CST) services. 

Independent educational settings must pay for the service received from the CST. A service can only be offered if the CST has capacity to provide this service. This flowchart illustrates the pathway to service.

Requesting a referral 

Mobile devices

If you are completing these forms via a mobile device, please ensure you have the Abode Reader app installed. You can get it from Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for iPhone.

Harrow Children's Sensory Team (CST) Charges

Who pays for the service?

In most cases the CST services are free for Harrow’s young people who meet the required criteria. However, the services are charge to the education setting for if the child fits either of the following descriptions:

  • the child is a Harrow resident, who attends an independent school and does not have an Education, Health Care Plans (EHCP); the educational setting will have to pay for the CST services
  • the child is a Harrow resident, who attends a further education college and does not have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP); the college will have to pay for the services

If your child meets either of these descriptions please complete the CST charged services request form​

Contact us

Harrow Children's Sensory Team
Harrow Council
Tel: 020 8051 8370
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For deaf or partially hearing callers, we welcome communication via email, fax, text or by using the Text Relay Service
Tel: 0800 731188
Textphone: 0800 500 888
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Further information on Children's Sensory Team

Children's Sensory Team Events

Courses for professionals

  • Professionals can also see the courses available via Support Services for Education (SS4e) portal. Direct link on SS4E for the Children’s Sensory Team: https://ss4eharrow.uk/Services/6484
  • In addition to the courses on SS4e, we offer bespoke training in education settings. The bespoke courses can be requested by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by directly contacting the CST teacher connected to the setting.

Courses for young people and/ or their families

  • Currently, courses for parents are advertised via email.  Please contact CST by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information on what is currently available.

CHSWG meetings

(Children’s Hearing Services Working Group)

Children’s Hearing Services Working Groups (CHSWGs) ensure that the services for deaf children and their families in your area work together to provide the best support possible. They are based in health authority areas in England

Parents of deaf children, as well as any other service users, and professionals who provide services for deaf children, such as teachers of the deaf, audiologists, and speech and language therapists. NDCS also attends many CHSWG meetings.

All meetings are via MS Teams links and are scheduled to run between 10am to 12pm and meet three times a year.

If you are a parent or carer please register here to join the CHSWG meetings and the links will be sent to you. Alternatively use the QR code below:

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If you would like to ask a question please submit it via the CHSWG online form or use the QR code below:

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Additional resourced provision

Harrow schools with additional resourced provision for children and young people with hearing impairment

Cedars Manor School
Whittlesea Road
Harrow
HA3 6LS
Tel: 020 8428 5845
Website: www.cedarsmanorschool.co.uk

Hatch End High School
Headstone Lane
Harrow
HA3 6NR
Tel: 020 8428 4330
Website: www.hatchend.harrow.sch.uk

There are no Harrow additionally resourced schools for children and young people with vision impairment.

Additional services