Learning Advisory Service (LAS)

Learning Advisory Service (LAS)

The Learning Advisory Service (LAS) is a team of specialist advisory teachers who work with schools, settings and families to support children and young people with SEND to access education and be fully included. Our teams provide expert support and guidance for children and young people who are deaf or partially hearing (DPH), visually impaired (VI) or multi sensory impaired (MSI); have physical disabilities or complex medical needs; experience language, literacy or communication difficulties; or use assistive technology to learn. The Sensory Support Service offers specialist assessment (DPH, VI, MSI), practical strategies, and training to help schools meet children’s needs and ensure they participate fully in school life. The LAS also provides ongoing professional development by offering training, SENCO Conferences, SENCO Forums and wider continual professional development (CPD) for SENCOs and school staff. Referrals to these specialist teams are usually made by schools or health professionals, but parents and carers are welcome to contact us directly with any questions about our service.

Sensory Support Service (Deaf and Visual Impairment Teams)

The Tower Hamlets Sensory Support Service provides specialist support for babies, children and young people aged 0–25 years with permanent deafness, long standing conductive hearing loss, vision impairment or multi sensory impairment (MSI). Qualified Teachers of the Deaf (QToD), Visually Impaired (QTVI), and the MSI specialist work with families, early years settings and schools to ensure children and young people can access learning and take- part fully in school life. The service offers assessment, written advice, home visits (for pre-statutory school age children) and school visits, practical strategies, mobility and orientation training and independence skills, specialist equipment advice, and deaf/vision awareness training. Support workers, a deaf Instructor and a senior habilitation specialist also contribute to direct teaching and family support, including a weekly pre school group for 0–3s. Referrals are made through NHS audiology or ophthalmology following a confirmed medical diagnosis, and families or professionals can contact the team for further information: 

Holly Black, Team Leader for Deaf and Partial Hearing
holly.black@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Lorna Paterson, Team Leader for Visual Impairment
lorna.paterson@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7364 6440

Language, Literacy and Communication Team (LLC team) 

The Language, Literacy and Communication Team (LLCT) is part of the Learning Advisory Service (LAS) and is made up of specialist teachers, including an advisory teacher for assistive technology and inclusion. The advisory teachers support schools and settings in Tower Hamlets to meet the needs of children and young people with language, literacy and communication difficulties such as Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), Dyslexia and other related needs. 

The Language, Literacy and Communication team provides free advice, school based support and a wide range of training for teachers, support staff, leaders and where arranged by the setting, parents - helping schools create inclusive classrooms and improve outcomes for pupils at SEN Support or with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The LLCT offers tailored input such as whole school audits, targeted strategies and professional development to strengthen practice across language, literacy and communication. The team are also licensed trainers for a range of interventions such as DLD together, Signalong, and Word Aware. Referrals come directly from education settings, and families and professionals can also access helpful guidance and resources via the team’s inclusion blog. 

Specialist Advisory Teachers for children with Physical Disabilities and/or Complex Medical Conditions (PD team)

The Specialist Advisory Teachers for children and young people with physical disabilities and complex medical needs within the Learning Advisory Service (LAS), work closely with mainstream primary and secondary schools across Tower Hamlets to ensure pupils with physical or medical needs can access school and participate fully in school life. Their role is to use their specialist expertise to help schools identify and remove barriers so that children with these needs can engage successfully in their education. 

Support may include:

• Supporting inclusive practice
• Advising on curriculum access and participation
• Advising on safe access to the school environment
• Supporting transitions, including reintegration following illness
• Liaising with other key services and signposting to appropriate support
• Advise around school-based planning such as Access Plans, Healthcare Plans (education elements), and PEEPs
• Offering general guidance to help schools identify when specialist services (e.g., OT/Physio, Moving & Handling, other specialists) may need to be involved 

The team can also contribute to multi-agency working by helping schools join up information across education, health and other professionals involved in the child’s support. This collaboration supports a coordinated approach and helps ensure pupils experience an inclusive and accessible school.

While the advisory teachers may offer general guidance on specialist equipment or manual handling considerations, these areas sit primarily with other specialist services. The team does not lead on equipment provision or manual handling but can help schools identify when further specialist input may be required.

Working collaboratively with schools, families, and health professionals, the specialist advisory teachers provide practical strategies that help education settings meet their statutory responsibilities and ensure children with physical or medical needs experience an inclusive, accessible school environment.

The team includes one specialist advisory teacher for primary schools and one for secondary schools (including all oncology cases), offering guidance and practical strategies to help education settings meet their statutory responsibilities and remove barriers to learning. Referrals for input usually come directly from education settings or professionals, however parents and carers can contact the service if they have any queries about how our service works and the support offered to schools. 

Schools can contact the advisory teachers directly for support and to complete a referral form:

Claudine Rausch (LBTH Primary Schools)
claudine.rausch@towerhamlets.gov.uk
020 7364 6440
07903 517 255

Ellena Valizadeh (LBTH Secondary Schools & all oncology cases)
ellena.valizadeh@towerhamlets.gov.uk
020 7364 6440
07745 745 970

Specialist Advisory Teacher for Assistive Technology and Inclusion

The Specialist Advisor for Assistive Technology and Inclusion, part of the Learning Advisory Service (LAS), supports mainstream schools and academies (including attached specialist or resource provisions) to use technology effectively to improve access to learning, independence, and curriculum participation for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This work promotes inclusion by helping settings use digital tools and assistive technology to meet the needs of all learners.

The specialist teacher advisor draws on extensive SEND and assistive technology expertise to help schools create supportive, inclusive environments. Guided by the principle that inclusion is a shared responsibility, where all staff contribute to the learning, wellbeing and safety of all children, the role emphasises assistive technology as an integral part of high quality teaching, rather than a specialised add on. The focus is on enabling schools and families to use appropriate tools that reduce barriers, increase independence, and support pupils to belong, achieve and thrive.

Support includes advice on assistive technology: tools, software, and equipment used to overcome barriers to learning and facilitate curriculum access. Support for schools and academies may include:

• Bespoke Strategy & Support: Tailored guidance to address individual barriers to learning (e.g. access to reading/writing, developing independence, selecting and using appropriate digital tools)
• Whole School or Setting Level Development: Support to embed assistive technology across teaching practice, resourcing, digital inclusion, and staff development
• Resource Adaptation: Practical guidance on adapting learning materials to make them accessible, engaging and appropriate for a wide range of needs
• School & Curriculum Development (A Whole School Approach): Support with school development planning and curriculum design to embed inclusive, adaptive teaching consistently across the setting

Referrals come directly from educational settings. Parents and carers are welcome to contact the Learning Advisory Service if they have any questions about how the service works or how schools can access assistive technology support.

Contact Information

Ben Annett, Specialist Advisor for Assistive Technology and Inclusion
Email: ben.annett@towerhamlets.gov.uk​​​​​​​