This section outlines the choices available to you when finding a school for your child. If your child is younger than five, see early years choosing a setting for your child
Finding a suitable school
Most children with sight problems are successful in mainstream schools. Our research shows that 59 per cent of children with sight problems between 5-16 years are educated in mainstream schools, or mainstream schools which are additionally resourced for blind and partially sighted pupils.
Some children, however, require a specialist placement for some or all of their education. If your child has a severe sight problem or additional needs, your child may get the best support in this setting.
Support from the local authority
For support in finding a school, we strongly advise that you contact your local authority's visual impairment teaching service for information and advice about your local provision. You will be allocated a teacher trained to support children with sight loss who can offer invaluable guidance from infancy through to your child going on to further education and employment.
To get in touch with a specialist teacher, contact our Helpline (0303 123 9999 / helpline@rnib.org.uk) and we can give you the name and contact details of someone in your area.
Mainstream schools
Mainstream schools are controlled by a governing body, funded by the local authority (LA). They have access to the full range of LA support services.
Where the LA issues a statement of special educational needs (SEN), it is required by law to name a mainstream school on it. However, if doing so would prevent other children from being educated efficiently, or you request a special school, a special school would be named instead.
If you choose a school outside your local area, you may want to consider your child's social needs. For example you may feel your child would be happier attending the same school as their brothers or sisters, or friends in the local community.
How schools meet your child's needs
Some schools have "resource bases" for pupils with sight problems. In these schools, there may be a base for the local visual impairment service. Other schools will have no additional unit, and focus on total inclusion.
Statements
If your child has a statement of special educational needs (SEN), they will receive a substantial amount of help from:
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a teaching assistant working with them
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a qualified teacher of visually impaired children (QTVI)
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outreach teachers from special schools or other outside professionals
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or a combination of the above.
Depending on the severity of your child's SEN, the school will provide varying levels of support.
If your child does not have a Statement, their special education provision will be met by the school itself.
For more about statements, see special educational needs and inclusion.
Special schools
Special schools cater for pupils who have special educational needs. These needs may relate to physical, learning, hearing or visual difficulties; to social emotional and behavioural difficulties; or to autistic spectrum disorders.
Some special schools are very specific about the needs for which they cater. Others are more generic and have pupils with a range of diverse needs.
Your child must have a statement of SEN to attend a special school, but could be assessed at one before their statement is finalised.
Residential or day schools
Many non-maintained or independent special schools have residential provision. Pupils can still attend on a daily basis if they live close enough to make daily travelling possible.
Most special schools that are maintained by local authorities only have day provision. However, some, especially those serving a large catchment area, may have some residential accommodation.
Finding the right special school
Only five per cent of pupils with sight problems attend special schools specifically for blind and partially sighted pupils. A larger group, 32 per cent, attend other types of special schools - for example, ones that are especially equipped to support children with learning or physical difficulties.
Finding the right special school may be daunting, so gather information on all the possible schools and make sure you visit them. Make sure you talk to your local authority for support.
For what to look out for, see complex needs - visiting a school.
Flexible placements
Sometimes a pupil's placement can be split between a mainstream and a special school. This is called a flexible placement.
This is possible if a special school is on the same campus as a mainstream school. Some pupils who are on the roll of the special school can go to specific lessons in the mainstream school.
Education at home
Another option is to educate your child at home. There are a number of websites which offer advice on home education.
References
All statistics are taken from the national questionnaire survey of local education authority visual impairment advisory services (including numbers of blind and partially sighted children and their educational placements), by RNIB Research Officer, Sue Keil.
More about schools
List of special schools and colleges