Teaching and learning guidance (all ages)
A teacher interacting a group of children as they draw in workbooks.
No matter what age group you are working with, here you will find resources and guidance to support learners with vision impairments from the ages of 0 to 25.
Early Years
The Developmental Journal for babies and children with Vision Impairment (DJVI)
The DJVI is an early childhood intervention framework for babies and young children with severe vision impairment. It systematically tracks developmental and vision progress from birth to three years of age (or equivalent developmental age) by aiding professionals to:
- Track and understand the child’s achievements, progress and development.
- Support goal setting and guidance to promote vision and general development.
- Identify difficult areas for increased early support.
- Support communication and information sharing through interdisciplinary and interagency working and parent partnership.
Qualified clinicians and specialist professionals providing support to babies and young children with vision impairment and their parents can apply for a professional DJVI licence.
Early years guides
We offer a range of Effective Practice Guides for professionals to use with the babies, young children and parents that they support, including:
- What to look for in an early years setting
- Focus on foundation
- Mobility and independence
- Social inclusion and social bonding
- Infant massage
- Learning through play
- Sensory and inclusive play
To access these resources and find out more about the DJVI, please visit Early Years.
Primary and secondary education
Access to education
This guide focuses on access to mainstream education for learners with vision impairment. It looks at ways in which professionals can help reduce barriers to learning by focusing on individual needs, providing accessible resources, enhancing communication skills, and making adjustments to the physical and sensory environment. It also considers the implications of vision impairment for social development and suggests key strategies for addressing these.
Mobility and independence at school
In this guide, we focus on how to encourage children and young people to become independent in their learning and play while at school.
Curriculum resources
For resources to support you in meeting the learning requirements of the National Curriculum in an accessible manner, please visit Curriculum Resources.
Further and higher education
Here we offer guidance for professionals on accessible admissions, funding, and the legal responsibilities of institutions to meet the support needs of young people in further and higher education.
For more information on college and university support, visit Education for Young People
Emotional support
To support emotional wellbeing for young people, we have a range of services and resources providing emotional support to children and young people with vision impairment, and their families.
Emotional support podcasts
Our Family Support Officers discuss advice and strategies for a range of common issues with Dr Ian McCubbin, a paediatric clinical psychologist who provides specialist NHS services as part of the team funded by Fight Against Blindness.
Listen to our Emotional Wellbeing Podcasts
Talking with children about their vision impairment
Parents tell us that one of the most difficult parts of finding out that their child has a vision impairment is knowing how to talk about it with their child.
This can be even more of a challenge if the eye condition is progressive, which means that vision will get worse over time.
We created our Tough Talks guide to help parents and professionals to structure these conversations. It increases understanding and provides techniques to improve emotional support both at home and in education settings.
Get our guide to Tough Talks
RNIB’s sight loss counselling services
RNIB’s Sight Loss Counselling team provides in-depth counselling support to young people with vision impairment aged 11 and over. With the consent of both the parent and child, you can make a direct referral using the online form (please note that a person over the age of 18 needs to complete the form). Parents are also able to make a referral for their child, and any family member can use the service.
Find out more about our Sight Loss Counselling Team
Education support
Our Children, Young People, Families and Education team is here to help. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, or you’d like to talk further about any of the above, please email us at [email protected] or call us on 0303 123 9999