Work with children and young people who have either deafness, vision impairment, or multi-sensory impairment, and their families, teaching staff and other professionals.
This occupation is found in the education sector, and working with families. It covers children and young people with sensory impairment (SI), ages 0-25, where special educational needs and disability (SEND) support is needed. Settings for this work include:
• family homes
• state, private and voluntary settings for early years 0-5
• childminders
• primary and secondary schools
• mainstream and special education schools
• post 16 further and higher education colleges
• local authority funded, trust and free schools
• peripatetic for local authorities in a sensory service
• third sector organisations and health trusts.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to work with children and young people who have either deafness, vision impairment, or multi-sensory impairment, and their families, teaching staff and other professionals. The children and young people may or may not have additional or complex needs. The teacher of children and young people with SI uses specialist expertise, knowledge and skills to plan and deliver direct specialist teaching. They work to develop the capacity of the wider educational team around the learner, including teachers, families and other professionals, to remove barriers to learning and provide an education which meets the learner's needs. The specialist teacher fosters the meaningful involvement of SI children and young people in their communities, families, and in the wider productive world as independently as possible. They recommend and put in place resources and environmental adaptations that support this access. This occupation has a governmental requirement for a mandatory qualification (MQ) which will be included in the apprenticeship.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of internal stakeholders such as babies and children, young people, families, and staff in a childcare, education or health environment. They also interact with a range of external stakeholders such as local authority officers, ophthalmologists, habilitation specialists, audiologists, ear, nose, and throat surgeons, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, voluntary agencies, social workers and other health and social care employees.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for completing their own work to specification, with minimal supervision, ensuring they meet set outcomes and deadlines. They are responsible for meeting quality requirements and working in accordance with safeguarding considerations. Teachers of the SI are expected to have knowledge and skills relating to the use of technology such as laptops, mobile phones, iPads, tablets and also specialist technology relating to their work with children with SI such as Braillers, audiometric test boxes, and assistive listening devices.
This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.
An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.
Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.
The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 24 months. The EPA period is typically 3 months.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.
The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.
The gateway requirements for your EPA are:
For the teacher for the sensory impaired, the qualification required is:
Post-graduate diploma for specialist teachers
Case study report with presentation and questioning
You will complete a case study and write a report. You will be asked to complete a case study report with presentation and questioning. The title and scope must be agreed with the EPAO at the gateway. The report should be a maximum of 2000 words (with a 10% tolerance).
You will have 8 weeks to complete the case study report and submit the report to the EPAO.
You need to prepare and give a presentation to an independent assessor. Your presentation slides and any supporting materials should be submitted at the same time as the case study report. The presentation with questions will last at least 60 minutes. The independent assessor will ask at least 5 questions about the case study report and presentation.
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 12 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a portfolio of evidence before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.
Examination board
The examination board will be constituted in line with the HEP's academic assessment regulations and may have an external examiner present when considering achievement of the mandatory post graduate diploma for specialist teachers.
The EPAO will confirm where and when each assessment method will take place.
You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.
You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.
You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.
If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.
This apprenticeship aligns with Department for Education for Qualified Teacher of the Deaf or Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired or Qualified Teacher of the Multi-sensory Impaired
Please contact the professional body for more details.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 14/11/2023 | Not set |
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