This focus group incorporates professionals working in schools and services in London and the South East.
For information: the VITAL London and South East (South of the River Thames) group has now been combined with the VITAL London and South East (North of the River Thames) group.
Forthcoming meeting
Exploring communication through touch and massage - REVISED programme
Using an understanding of touch and simple massage to relax and develop communication with children with visual impairment and complex needs. Using massage to develop choice, body and sensory awareness and building trusting relationships.
Date: Friday 17th May 2013
Venue: RNIB, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE
Time: 10am - 3pm
Cost: £40 including refreshments and lunch
This day will be presented by Jane Harrison. Jane has worked for many years with people with learning disabilities and has a particular interest in supporting children and adults with complex needs and understanding those who sometimes have challenging behaviour. Jane has an MA in the Psychology of Learning Disability and is trained in Therapeutic Massage and Aromatherapy and has been running her own practice and teaching and writing over the last 25 years.
The programme will also include a Policy Update, by Julie Jennings (RNIB Manager; Children, Young People and Families), including details of the development of the Children and Families Bill.
To book a place, please download and complete the application form (Word 325 KB) and send by email to cypf@rnib.org.uk or post to Sona Molnarova, RNIB, 58-72 John Bright Street, Birmingham B1 1BN. Telephone 0121 665 4235.
The full programme including timings is available to download. Exploring communication through touch and massage REVISED programme (Word, 172KB)
All professionals with an interest in complex needs and visual impairment are welcome to attend.
Previous meetings
3rd July 2012 (RNIB, Central London)
Stories, story-telling and developing literacy for children with complex needs.
The group received presentations and shared in discussions with Marion Ripley from Clearvision, Chris Fuller formerly of Bag Books, who talked about presenting tactile materials to children with complex needs, and developing expertise in sharing stories with children with MDVI (multiple disability and visual impairment). Keith Park, who works as a teacher of drama and story-telling in special schools around London will delivered a session on Interactive stories.
There was also a Policy Update on recent developments in the field of complex needs and visual impairment, to include changes proposed under the SEN Green Paper and forthcoming Children and Families Bill, and the new Early Years Foundation Stage.
3 November 2011
The group met at the Garwood Foundation Rutherford School in Croydon, which is an independent special educational needs (SEN) school for pupils aged 2 -19 with profound and multiple learning difficulties, complex needs, degenerative conditions and additional sensory impairments. The school presented on their use of St Margaret's Profound Developmental Curriculum Model.
The group also looked at the new immersive learning environments for children with complex needs that has been installed at the school by The Sensory Guru.
27 May 2011 (North London)
The focus of this meeting was information and communications technology (ICT) for children with complex needs. The morning session focused on aids for environmental control and communication, presented by Possum Technology. The afternoon session included a presentation on the use of Clicker to communicate and the beginnings of hi-tec augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The afternoon session included a tour of Woodfield School as well as opportunities for discussions, networking and sharing best practice.
26 November 2010 (North London)
The focus of this meeting was the transition to further education and adulthood for young people with visual impairment (VI) and complex needs.
Starting off the morning session, Sue Keil (RNIB) presented the latest research findings in relation to transition for children and young people with complex needs. This was followed by a presentation from June Muuray of RNIB College Loughborough focusing on the college perspective on transition. June explained how RNIB Loughborough college manages this process and looked at the ways in which schools, colleges and other organisations can work together and support each other and young people with the transition process.
Jenny Fletcher (SENSE) presented to the group and provided information on 'Getting a result'. This DVD resource aims to encourage the participation of young deafblind children and young people in the transitional planning process. The afternoon included an opportunity for a discussion and sharing session on good practice examples in relation to transition.
14 October 2010 (South London)
The group met at The Valence School, Westerham, Kent. The focus of the morning was access to ICT for children with complex needs presented by Pauline Hayat, Communication Curriculum Access (CCA) Manager at Valence School, and Adrian Luck. This was followed by a tour of the facilities at the School.
In the afternoon, the group looked at DVDs for professionals working with children with VI and/or complex needs, and considered the ways in which these could be used for in-service training.
This was followed by a session on age appropriate resources and attendees shared practical examples.
28 April 2010 (North London)
The group met at The Woodlands Community Special School, Bransgrove Road, Edgware, Middlesex.
The session focused on Early Years with presentations and discussion on the use of the early support materials including 'The Developmental Journal for Babies and Children with VI: Its development and use with typically developing children', presented by Jackie Osbourne, Specialist Advisory Teacher at Hartfordshire Advisory Service for VI Children.
Julie Jennings, Manager of the Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) Team at RNIB, presented a session on the use of the Developmental journal with children with complex needs. And Yolanda Real Tirador led a discussion on Personalised Learning Plans.
Participants also enjoyed a tour of Woodlands Community Special School.
19 March 2010 (South London)
This group met at The Children's Trust in Tadworth, Surrey. The focus of this meeting was assessment and rehabilitation within a residential setting.
Milla Johnson, Senior Occupational Therapist, presented on the impact of brain injury on vision.
The group discussed assessment techniques, including the use of functional vision assessments which look at how children use their eyes when they are being interacted with, and when they are not. Attendees discussed and shared materials used for visual stimulation.
The day included a tour of the Rehabilitation Centre, National Centre for Children and Young People with Acquired Brain Injury
18 November 2009 (North London)
This meeting was hosted by Woodfield School in Hemel Hempstead. Participants enjoyed a tour of this all age school for 80 children with severe learning disabilities.
Their new sensory room included a variety of interactive equipment which made it stimulating and accessible to pupils with a wide variety of needs.
Maggi Haswell and Lyndsey Brampton led a session on the school's policies regarding use of the sensory room, and how assessment of pupils' responses in the room is carried out and recorded.
Pro-formas for both of these are available on request from vital@rnib.org.uk
Participants shared a range of ideas for sensory interactive stories and activities. Bill Leslie of Greenside school introduced a range of sensory stories he had developed. These can be downloaded from the Greenside School website.
Other ideas included a multi-sensory interpretation of Giles Andreae and Nick Sharrall's book "Pants" by Jane Connolly of Amwell View School, and a range of resources for sensory storytelling, including smells from Dale Air and edible, chewy jewellery by Chewellery.
Contact information
For more information or to join this group, please contact vital@rnib.org.uk or telephone 0113 386 2815.