Learning

RNIB certificate in grade 2 English braille

Summary: This course offers certification in grade 2 English braille. Accredited as a BTEC Advanced Certificate at Level 3.

About our BTEC accredited course

This distance learning course is aimed at anyone who works alongside individuals using braille in an educational context, such as teachers, teaching assistants, parents and support workers. It is also open to anyone who has a specific interest in braille. It provides complete tuition in how to read and write the grade 2 English braille code.

Apply for the next intake by 16 January 2009!

Course content

The course includes:

  • all aspects of standard English literary braille (grade 2)
  • basic number, money, time, fractions and decimals.

It does not cover:

  • advanced notation in specialist subject areas (mathematics, science or music)
  • skills of teaching braille to blind individuals.

Certification

The course is accredited as a BTEC advanced certificate at level 3. It also leads to the award of the RNIB braille certificate. These certificates are recognised by schools, colleges and local authorities as evidence of competence in supporting the communication needs of an individual with sight loss by reading, writing and transcribing braille.

In April 2008, Edexcel (our awarding body) validated the standards and quality of the assessment process and administrative systems for this course. We’re delighted to announce that we were given an A grading and the course has been kite marked as being of a very high standard!

Course options

Full correspondence course

This pathway is for sighted learners who have no prior knowledge of braille. Students receive all the materials and tuition needed to complete course exercises, plus one opportunity to take the examination. The average time scale for completing the full course is 18-24 months.

Price (for 2008): £600

Fifty per cent discount for parents of children who are blind or partially sighted.

Fast track course

This pathway is for sighted and non-sighted individuals who already have a good working knowledge of reading and writing grade 2 English braille. This mode mainly consists of preparation for the examination. The course includes one opportunity to take the examination within the specified time period of 15 months, marking of practice papers and associated tuition. The fee also includes a copy of the Braille Primer (2005 edition). Please note that applicants must complete and pass an initial braille assessment task before they are fully enrolled on this mode of the course.

Price (for 2008): £350

Please note that no discounts apply to this mode of the course.

See also Brush up your braille: a refresher course in grade 2 English braille one-day workshop.

Structure and assessment

There are two start dates for the course every year: in February and October. The closing date for receipt of applications for each intake is 16 January or 16 September, respectively. Any applications received after these dates will be held until the next enrolment deadline.

The full correspondence course consists of five self-study, tutor-assessed units and a final examination which assesses all the skills learned during the course. To obtain the most benefit from this course, students should be aware that this qualification can be very demanding and therefore requires regular home/personal study and daily input for reading and writing. Learning braille is a skill best practiced for short intervals on a daily basis.

Each unit is estimated to involve about 30 hours of study, although the actual amount of study time will inevitably vary from one student to another. Tutorial support is available at regular intervals to provide feedback and advice by post, telephone or email.

Please note that this is a cumulative course which requires a competency of English at a minimum equivalent of GCSE grade C.

What you will need for the course

All learning materials are provided by post. Sighted learners normally read braille by sight rather than touch.

All students need a Perkins Braille machine and braille paper to complete their braille exercises. These are not provided as part of the course. However, Perkins Braille machines are available on loan for certificate in grade 2 English braille students. The charge is currently £50 for the loan of the machine for two years.

For more information, please contact Linda Parsons on telephone: 01733 37 53 03 or email linda.parsons@rnib.org.uk or Kevin Ground on 01733 37 50 20 or email kevin.ground@rnib.org.uk.

Alternatively, you can purchase a Perkins Braille machine outright from RNIB Customer Services, telephone 0845 702 3153 (local rate), email cservices@rnib.org.uk or visit our online shop.

The examination

The examination comprises three papers taken in succession on the same day:

  • Part A tests reading and comprehension skills on a passage of braille prose and subsequent questions.
  • Part B involves transcribing several passages of text and number from print to braille.
  • Part C requires students to compose a piece of spontaneous braille writing.

The examination takes place in March and July every year at a designated centre approved by the RNIB braille tutor. The first possible exam date open to fast track students is July for February starters and March for October starters.

Arrangements can be made for candidates with particular requirements to access the examination scripts through audio or reader. Please note that candidates need to provide their own reader who has no knowledge of the braille code.

Feedback from course participants

Read the feedback from students who have successfully completed the course and examination.

Ruth’s success story

Ruth Armstrong was thrilled when her braille skills were recognised when she applied for a job as a Peripatetic Learning Support Assistant. Read Ruth's full story.

Rebecca’s success story

Rebecca Lilley’s proficiency in braille is enabling her to support her ten year old daughter’s learning and growing literacy skills. Read Rebecca’s full story.

Further information

For further information on course content and standards contact Anne Donnelly, Lead Braille Tutor, on telephone 0121 665 4214 or email anne.donnelly@rnib.org.uk.

To enrol on the course, download the course application form (MS Word 40KB) and send to the address below.

Alternatively for further information on course enrolment, or to request an application form to be sent by post, please contact:

Jen Morton, Administrative Assistant
RNIB Training Services
58-72 John Bright Street
Birmingham
B1 1BN
Telephone 0121 665 4212
Fax 0121 665 4201
Email dstraining@rnib.org.uk

Terms and conditions

  • Applications will be acknowledged within two weeks of receipt.
  • Please send a cheque made payable to RNIB with the application form, or pay on receipt of invoice.
  • RNIB reserves the right to impose a charge for places cancelled two months or less before the commencement date, and in situations where students withdraw after commencement of the course.
  • Students are required to complete the course and sit the examination within a given timeframe. If the course is not completed in this time, students will be charged an additional fee to continue.

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Content author: DSTraining@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13

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