Partners in Learning is a BTEC Advanced Certificate course for Teaching Assistants and other support staff working with children and young people who are blind and partially sighted in educational settings. Here we share the feedback we have received from participants attending this course.
Jane from Nottingham wrote after the course as follows:
"I would like to say a big 'thank you' for the knowledge and understanding I have gained as a result of doing the course. It has been very interesting and enormously informative. The visually impaired learner I have been working with has definitely benefited from the adaptations we have made in the classroom."
Gill from Wakefield:
"I feel a lot more confident to deal with the varying attitudes, expectations and levels of help and support required by pupils, members of staff and/or challenging situations. Meeting lots of people from various educational settings who perform a similar role to me has provided me with an invaluable insight to other people's experiences and practices. I would advise anyone presented with an opportunity to attend the course to do so without hesitation."
Claddy from Haringay commented that:
"I understand my roles better now and can speak out if I disagree'.
Lisa from Tottenham felt the course kept her 'enthused and wanting to know more each month'.
Belinda from Wolverhampton found that it was 'very motivating to have tutors who has such enthusiasm about their specialist knowledge. I enjoyed the course so much - don't think it could have been better."
Jane's success story
Jane Lynch was able to use ideas from Partners in Learning to significantly improve her pupils' learning experience. Read Jane's article, Inspiring Changes, published in Insight magazine, issue 13.
Value of the course units and training days
"Excellent for encouraging personal study. Good for networking with others in my role."
"All of the units were extremely interesting."
"Very relevant and informative. Parts were challenging but prompted me to reflect on my professional conduct and development."
"Presentations were enjoyable, hands on, really helpful and thought provoking!"
"It was interesting to learn about the types of visual impairment and their medical causes and made me focus on functional vision as opposed to blindness."
"I have found the RNIB handbook folder easily understandable and essential reading."
Benefits of attending the course
"This course has helped me to be more professional in my work and has greatly extended my knowledge."
"All the children I work with benefit from this learning experience, as do the class teachers."
"The course has made me realise how my support is important both to pupils and school."
"I am more sensitive to the physical and emotional aspects of visual impairment."
"The course has helped me in my relationships with teaching staff."
"The course has given me confidence, a better insight into my role and how to support pupils more effectively."
Read feedback from the field.