Low Incidence Needs Team (LINT)
The Low Incidence Needs Team (LINT) is part of the SEN Inclusion Team and includes the areas of hearing, vision, multi-sensory impairment and physical and/or medical needs, all of which provide support to pre-school children and young people in education aged (0-25) with sensory impairment in Gateshead.
Most LINT services are funded via the High Needs funding block of the Dedicated Schools Grant from the Department for Education. This means that most of the services provided by LINT are free to schools and settings in Gateshead.
Specialist teachers and support staff hold the necessary mandatory qualifications (or working towards) in the areas of:
- Hearing Inclusion (HI)
- Vision Inclusion (VI)
- Multi-sensory Inclusion (MSI)
- Physical and/or Medical Needs (PMN)
LINT provide services which may include
- home teaching for pre-school children and teaching support for school-age children and young people
- information and advice on a child or young person's sensory impairment or physical/medical needs and its implications
- support with hearing/vision assessments and technologies
- assistance with access to specialist equipment
- teaching in sign language and Braille if appropriate and supporting access to participation in leisure and social activities outside of school
Hearing Inclusion (HI)
The team consists of specialist mandatory qualified teachers of the D/deaf (QToD) and specialist sensory teaching assistants (SSTAs), a highly specialist speech and language therapist (SALT) and a specialist sensory learning mentor.
Vision Inclusion (VI)
The team consists of specialist mandatory qualified teachers of Vision Impairment (QTVI) and specialist sensory teaching assistants (SSTAs), a Habilitation Specialist and a specialist sensory learning mentor.
Multi-sensory Inclusion (MSI)
The team consists of a specialist mandatory qualified teacher of Vision Impairment (QTMSI) and specialist sensory teaching assistants (SSTAs) who are trained as Intervenors. There is joint working with specialists from the areas of hearing and vision impairment appropriate to each individual child or young person's needs.
Physical and/or Medical Needs (PMN)
There is a specialist teacher who provides advice and guidance to schools and settings, There is close joint working with colleagues in health such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nursing staff.
Make a referral
Download the LINT Referral form for Sensory Impairment and/or Physical and Medical Needs (PDF, 105 KB)(opens new window)
See the referral criteria for the North East Education VI Network
LINT eligibility criteria
LINT operate eligibility criteria which are in line with the National Sensory Impairment Partnership (NatSIP) recommendations. These sit alongside the Gateshead SEND Threshold document which identifies appropriate interventions according to identified levels of need.
Contact
Amanda Card
SEND Manager - Low Incidence Needs Team
If you have any queries, email [email protected]
Business Support Team
Floor 2 Civic Centre
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH