MSI

The MSI (Multi-sensory Impairment) Unit is the only one in Cheshire and caters for pupils with a dual sensory impairment or a single impairment that significantly impacts on their ability to learn and develop. We have two trained MSI teachers and two teaching assistants who are trained as MSI Intervenors.

The MSI unit follows a unique curriculum that has been designed by the Victoria School in Birmingham, a centre of excellence for MSI. The curriculum identifies the 8 areas of particular learning needs that pupils with MSI have:

• Social relationships and emotional development
• Communication
• Conceptual development
• Sensory responses
• Understanding of time and place
• Orientation, Movement and mobility
• Ownership of learning
• Responses to routines and changes

We develop Individual Learning Programmes for the pupils centered around what motivates and interests them and the 8 key areas of learning. We have group sessions which tend to focus on stories, music and making a lot of mess!!

All programmes or sessions are designed to encourage pupils to use their residual senses to explore and make sense of the world. Pupils in the Unit have access to specialised settings and equipment for example a Dark Room, Rebound Therapy, Hydro Therapy and a Sensory Playground.

In the Unit we believe that communication is the key to our pupils learning and developing and we use a Total Communication approach. This includes body signing, signing, gesture, communication aids, symbols, photos, objects of reference and intensive interaction.