RNIB believes that all blind or partially sighted children, young people and their families should enjoy the same rights, freedoms, responsibilities and quality of life as those who are fully sighted. We want to raise standards and improve quality in teaching and learning and the provision of services to children and young people with a visual impairment and support teaching, training and learning across the education sector.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
This section provides a comprehensive range of guidance on effective practice for professionals educating young people with sight loss. We look at Special Educational Needs (SEN) and offer advice to schools and educational settings, in relation to learners with a visual impairment, including information on extra support, access to the curriculum and more.
Early Years
The early years, (birth to five years), are crucial for a child's development. We have ideas, resources and information to support your work. From choosing the right early years setting, to developing an early years curriculum, to encouraging learning through play and building treasure baskets, we can help.
School Age
The School Age section provides information and resources on supporting blind and partially sighted children in mainstream primary and secondary schools.
Advice about teaching specific subjects is available and you may wish to explore our resources for education professionals section for subject specific classroom resources and our One of the Class CD. You may also like to see teaching approaches in action in our Count me in training DVD and Hear me out audio CD-ROM.
Further and Higher Education
In the Further and Higher education section, 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.
Transition on to further and higher education can seem daunting for young people. This is why RNIB have developed Transition guidance specifically for young people who are blind or partially sighted to help support them through this process. "Your future, your choice: Bridging the gap" outlines the support and services available to assist young people through their journey from school, through further and higher education, and into employment. It aims to empower young people, enabling them to make informed choices about their future.
Complex Needs
Aimed at professionals working with children and young people with complex needs, this section provides information on classroom activities, including lesson ideas and resources; communication, including communication technology, touch and objects of reference; mobility and movement; vision and hearing assessments and more!
Effective Practice
Our Effective practice in RNIB schools and RNIB college pages allow us to capture and share effective practice in RNIB specialist settings, to help guide and facilitate effective working practices for children and young people who are blind or partially sighted within special schools nationally.
Access Technology
Being able to use computers, phones and other gadgets for learning, leisure and keeping in contact with friends and family, is key for blind and partially sighted young people.
Our technology pages offer information on the latest developments in accessible computers, mobile phones, websites and more. It also offers beginers guides to access technology, the use of interactive whiteboards as well as technology demonstration videos.