Julie Jennings, RNIB's Children, Young People and Families Manager, said: "We welcome the recognition that special educational needs (SEN) provision is an area in need of significant reform and the potential this reform has in giving families greater control over the support they receive.
"However we still have a number of concerns about the proposals, particularly how the eligibility criteria and thresholds governing entitlement to Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans will be designed, and believe it is essential that the new system is developed in partnership with voluntary and community organisations and families. EHC plans will be an important gateway to SEN provision so blind and partially sighted children should clearly get this help.
"We would also urge the Government to consider a robust "national offer" for children and young people with highly specialist needs to enable every local authority to develop and publish their own local offer of support.
"There are an estimated 22,000 blind and partially sighted children and young people aged 0-16 years in England. Research shows that pupils with sight loss are more likely than those with no SEN to experience disadvantages so it is essential that these needs are picked up early and support put into place as soon as possible."
Notes to Editors:
Services which children and young people with sight loss typically require include the following:
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Regular input from a qualified teacher of pupils with sight loss, both for direct teaching of specialist skills such as learning to read and write through braille and for advisory work
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Provision of equipment
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Adult support (including use of a trained Teaching Assistant)
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Ongoing adaptation of resources
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Consistent funding for low vision assessments and prescription of aids mobility training and independence skills, including daily living activities support for social and emotional development
RNIB work to ensure that blind and partially sighted children and adults including those with additional disabilities maximise their potential. We provide support, advice and information for parents, carers and professionals as well as delivering specialist residential care, education and work related training within our schools and College. www.rnib.org.uk