RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning provides individually-tailored care, education, healthcare and therapies for young people with complex needs who are blind or partially sighted, aged up to 19. We also offer education to pupils who attend on a daily basis.
Our developing service called 'Periscope' provides educational advice, guidance and practical support to pupils, parents and service providers locally and nationally. This includes:
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Working with and supporting pupils in other schools and colleges with individual assessment/ teaching programs.
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Running training and information sessions for fellow professionals in our specialist classroom.
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We also host parent/toddler groups with small group sensory sessions on a weekly basis.
The 'Periscope' team
The Periscope team consists of Qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired who are also specialists in additional complex needs and a highly experienced Higher Level Teaching Assistant. This team can provide assessments of pupils' functional vision and their tactile discrimination skills, as well as environmental audits of buildings and work areas.
Our Periscope staff use assessments to inform highly personalised planning for pupils in order to remove barriers to learning. This may involve using specific teaching techniques, such as reading Moon and braille letters/words, providing adapted resources, and training staff.
Specialist resource base
The base for our Periscope outreach service is also a "model classroom" showcasing up-to-date specialist resources such as readers, magnifiers and communication aids.
This is available for pupils, parents and professionals who may visit to discuss how these aids may best be used in the classroom and at home.
Get in touch
To find out more about our Periscope service or to make an appointment to visit our specialist resource-base classroom, please contact us.