It is estimated that there are around 25,000 children and young people up to the age of 16 in England and Wales with a visual impairment of sufficient severity to meet the definition of special educational needs, and who therefore require specialist educational support. As many as 50 per cent have additional disabilities, including those with very complex needs. Most are born with a visual impairment.
RNIB offers support to education professionals working with blind and partially sighted learners from birth to 25, including those with complex needs. We want to ensure children with sight loss get the best possible start in life and go on to achieve their full potential.
Guidance and resources
RNIB strives constantly to raise standards in education and improve the quality of teaching and learning for all children and young people with visual impairment. Our 'Support for education professionals' section is designed to assist you in providing the best possible education and developmental support to blind and partially sighted children and young people. Within this section, we have developed a comprehensive range of effective practice guides and information around educating children and young people with a sight condition including:
Research and policy
RNIB believes in approaches to policy and practice which are based on evidence from research. You can find information about the latest research from RNIB along with key external research from the sector. You can also read our Education and sight loss: facts and figures, to find the latest stats about how many blind and partially sighted children and young people there are, where they are educated, and how they learn and are supported.
We also offer information on the latest government policy in education and our responses to recent education consultations.
In addition, we have developed a series of position statements on key aspects of provision to help safeguard the quality of support that blind and partially sighted children and young people receive.
Local Authority VI Service Cuts
In the current economic climate, we are aware that a number of public sector cuts are being made to services including the visual impairment sector and that these are having or could have a significant effect on education provision for blind and partially sighted children and young people. Our Local Authority (LA) Visual Impairment (VI) Service Cuts pages offer a variety of resources to help provide evidence and arguments to protect necessary levels of support.
Resources for young people
The RNIB Young people's web pages offer advice and guidance for blind and partially sighted young people aged from 14 to 25 on all stages of their transition from school, to college, university and into employment. Co-designed and reviewed by young people across the UK, the pages include information on leaving home, as well as emotional support, free time activities, technology and more. Young people have provided their own personal experiences of transition, incorporating written, video and audio case studies. Encourage any young people you work with to visit the RNIB Young people's pages.
RNIB have produced a series of UK wide transition guidance for young blind or partially sighted people aged 14 to 25 years. These guides outline the support and services available to assist young people throughout their journey from school, through further and higher education and on into employment. The guide aims to empower young people to make their own informed choices about their future. Download your free copy of 'Your future, your vision, your choice: Bridging the gap' now!
Resources for parents
RNIB Parents Place offers parents a safe place to meet, share experiences and get hold of up to date and relevant parenting information. Parents place Includes information on coming to terms with your child's sight condition, financial support, other parents stories, a who's who guide for parents and more. Encourage parents to visit RNIB Parents place.