Derbyshire's Support Services

The Support Service for Children who are Deaf and Hearing Impaired (SSD and HI) work with children and young people and their families offering information and support from the point of diagnosis of hearing loss to leaving school or college.

The Support Service for Children with Physical Impairments (SSPI) offers educational guidance and support to children and young people (0 to 19 years of age) who have a physical impairment and/or a significant medical need.

The Support Service for Children with Visual Impairment (SSVI) work with children and young people, and their families, offering information and support where visual difficulties may impede learning and/or development.

The county Behaviour Support Service (BSS) support schools to improve pupil behaviour and reduce exclusions, to support the re-integration of excluded pupils and to provide or secure the best possible education for pupils who are unable to attend school as a result of their behaviour.

The Support Service for Special Educational Needs (SSSEN) delivers direct teaching to pupils of primary school age who have statements of special educational needs.

The Educational Psychology Service (EPS) work with children and young people aged 0-25. While working together with parents/carers is an essential part of our work, the focus is on supporting the child within the educational setting.

Every school has an educational psychologist linked to them and will have a Support and Planning meeting at least once a year with their educational psychologist. The work that the educational psychologist will do is agreed with a member of staff from the school, usually the headteacher or SENCO. If parents have concerns about their child, they should raise this with school staff in the first instance.

The Local Inclusion Officer Service (LIO) supports inclusion in schools and settings for children and young people with special educational needs.