In the context of ongoing financial pressures, services for children with sight loss in the Teeside area were reviewed last year. There were worries that specialist teaching posts may be lost and levels of support for children's learning cut back.
RNIB and local parents fed their views into the process, and the councils involved of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton on Tees and Redcar and Cleveland have now confirmed they will be retaining the much valued services which they currently provide.
Middlesbrough council currently provides these services on behalf of the other councils, but in future they will commission the Head Teacher of Sunnyside School in Middlesbrough to manage elements of the service. Sunnyside has a base for children with visual impairments and it is expected that there will be greater coordination of provision as a result. The existing number of teachers supporting children in schools across the area will be retained.
RNIB's Regional Campaigns Officer Henri Murison said "We'd like to thank those who carried out the review for having taken on board the concerns we raised that were passed to us by those who were concerned services might be cuts to frontline staff as a result of the review."
"At a time when across the country we will need to fight for blind and partially sighted children to get the vital specialist help they need to fulfil their potential, we are glad that services in this area will be retained, and in fact have the potential to be further improved and developed."