Partnership working is a key aspect of RNIB Schools and RNIB College in both the local community and nationally. Our schools and colleges are leading the way with collaboration, working together with local business and schools to enhance the opportunities available to learners and engaging in joint working to fund projects, provide services and support their learners and staff.
Chinese Delegates learn from RNIB College Loughborough's success
Following a recently formed link with the British Council of China based in Beijing, RNIB College Loughborough and other RNIB departments, welcomed 15 Chinese Delegates for a weeklong visit.
The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to learn more about the education provisions for people with sight loss and other disabilities in the UK. The majority of those that visited were college principals, as well as two Directors from the Chinese Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), the government umbrella organisation for schools and colleges for people with disabilities in China.
After spending time at RNIB's Head Office in London the group travelled to RNIB College Loughborough. RNIB College Loughborough is a leading provider of Further Education for people with sight loss and other disabilities and so the College was able to showcase its innovative approach to learning through the enterprise led curriculum and the use of individually tailored programmes.
Overall the visit proved a huge success for both parties and senior members of RNIB are now discussing plans to visit Beijing in order to learn new ways to support and improve the lives of people with disabilities.
For further information contact: Claire Watkin, Marketing and Development Manager at enquiries@rnibcollege.ac.uk or visit the RNIB College Loughborough website.
Joint work between local college and school brings success all-round
RNIB College Loughborough and Ashmount School Loughborough have both been celebrating a successful partnership over the last 2 years with Outstanding grades from Ofsted inspectors.
The School and College have been working together over the past 2 years to offer opportunities to Ashmount post 16 students. A 2 day 'transitions' project and a 1 day 'progression' link in the College have been paid for by 'Aiming high for disabled children' funding from Leicestershire County Council. The projects have given opportunities for Ashmount students to take part in work experience in the College's enterprises, learning for life after school, residential overnight stays and other classes at RNIB College.
Ashmount School received an Ofsted Outstanding grade in February of this year, with RNIB College being awarded this accolade for their care services in November. Both establishments feel that their links with each other and other organisations have added to their success and to the quality of learning they provide. Ashmount Head teacher Dave Thomas said; "Our students have really benefited and developed from the work at RNIB College. Being able to follow part of their week's work in a further education setting has seen progress in all the skills we have taught them and practised over the years. The College link is a real step forward which prepares them for the next part of their life, especially when it is combined with overnight stays. Transition from full time education is always a difficult move and this partnership has helped to ease the anxiety and concern felt by students and their parents."
The Principal of the RNIB College, Tony Warren shared Dave's enthusiasm for the project saying: "We recruit students with a very wide range of disabilities and it is great to build these links with the local community. We have seen the confidence and skills of these young people grow. Ashmount is an excellent school and a superb partner."
For further information contact: Claire Watkin, Marketing and Development Manager at enquiries@rnibcollege.ac.uk or visit the RNIB College Loughborough website.
Moving forward together
The first collaboration between a non maintained and maintained special school
Formally since Autumn 2009, RNIB Sunshine House School and Children's Home and Grangewood School have been working together in a unique collaboration. This has seen a national charity and local authority share skills, resources and expertise to improve education and care for blind and partially sighted children with significant learning difficulties and disabilities.
The benefits for children, staff, parents, governors and other stakeholders from both school communities are already evident. Both schools had highly successful Ofsted inspections after just a few months of working together.
In May 2009 Ofsted commented "The partnership with Grangewood is already proving to be mutually beneficial. Opportunities for continuous professional development for the staff of both schools have increased. The partnership has opened up many opportunities for both schools' pupils and parents, for example in the use of each other's facilities and many joint ventures are planned".
If you are interested in finding out more about our collaboration with Grangewood School you can contact John Ayres, Executive Headteacher by emailing john.ayres@rnib.org.uk or by calling 01923 82 25 38.
Collaboration with Mainstream Partner College
RNIB College Loughborough is one of the first specialist colleges to have a formal partnership arrangement with a mainstream partner - Loughborough College. The colleges share the same campus and collaborate closely. Around a third of YPLA - funded and some adult learners attend programmes at Loughborough College.
This close partnership is governed by a Memorandum of Agreement. This gives RNIB learners access to the whole of the mainstream curriculum and courses with the support of specialist staff. Additionally learners have access to the breadth and wealth of Student Union facilities and activities, groups and club. This partnership can help learners develop the skills to learn in a mainstream environment.
This provision was Quality Assured by Ofsted in February 2008. Ofsted found this relationship to be 'very effective' with full collaboration on quality assurance, lesson observations and staff development.
Want to know what is involved in establishing successful partnership with mainstream and specialist colleges in your region? Contact June Murray, Assistant Principal Programmes at enquiries@rnibcollege.ac.uk or call 01509 611077 for helpful advice on how it works for RNIB College Loughborough.
Partnerships for Employment Network
RNIB College Loughborough has established a strong partnership for the Employment network with a wide range of employers in the local area who offer work placements and other support to learners including mock interviews. The team have extended their commercial contacts and are able to negotiate with dynamic organisations to offer placement.
Work placements for adults are sourced, where possible, in the learners' home area to support becoming part of the local workforce. 100 per cent of adult learners and 97 per cent of YPLA learners took part in appropriate work placement opportunities which they felt helped them to develop the skills to enable them to get a job. Changes have been made and more training has been given to raise awareness about the impact of disability to employers. The College took the opportunity to invite Disability Employment Advisers and local health practitioners to this training too. Learners are involved in the training.
The training has been very well received and very positive evaluations were submitted. The College further supported this by providing employers with a handbook about the impact of disability on learning and employment.
To find out more, visit the Employment Partnerships section of RNIB College Loughborough's website or contact enquiries@rnibcollege.ac.uk or call 01509 611077 for advice on how to link with businesses in your local area.
Peer Review and Development Group
The College works in close collaboration with five other specialist colleges in the region in a Peer Review and Development Group. This work has included shared training, shared learner activities (visits, conferences, etc), sharing of best practice, plus the sharing of policy documents and procedures.
Over the last two years the group has worked on Individual Learning Plans and the embedding of targets, and the quality of teaching and learning. The Group has shared training on, for example, the Foundation Learning (Tier) and have worked with external consultants to drive improvement. Training in November 2010 has centred on ensuring learning support staff are working and observed to be working to National Occupational Standards. The College has trialled a new observational tool under a Stretch and Challenge initiative for Learning Assistants.
Additionally, the Group carries out reviews and follows up reviews with impact evaluations. The RNIB College was reviewed by its peers for two days in November 2009 to investigate if the learner voice has been effective at improving care planning and risk assessments. The Review found that it had been successful.
Contact enquiries@rnibcollege.ac.uk or call 01509 611077 for more information.
College Partnerships
An enhanced partnership exists with one of the colleges within the Peer Review and Development Group (Homefield College) including reciprocal arrangements with staff development, the extended curriculum, observations including peer observations, sharing of best practice (ie e-bay enterprise), joint gardening project and work placement opportunities for learners.
Contact enquiries@rnibcollege.ac.uk or call 01509 611077 for more information.