Our pick of the best events for professionals supporting learners with vision impairment
- Post date:
- Wednesday, 21 November 2018
Check out our list of best conferences, courses and exhibitions to help you further support children and young people with vision impairment.
RNIB Braille Network Days
Supporting Early Literacy – teaching literacy through braille using a phonics-based approach (including reading and writing).
When: Monday 12 November, 9.30 – 3pm
Where: RNIB, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE
When: Friday 23 November 9.30 – 3pm
Where: RNIB, Fairfax House, Leeds LS2 8JU
What: The braille network is for education professionals supporting children who use braille as their learning medium. The day will be of interest to Qualified Teachers of children with Vision Impairment (QTVI)s, teachers, teaching assistants and staff working within resource bases. This professional networking day will cover the use of phonics as a means of teaching literacy through braille. There will also be an opportunity to update on RNIB’s products and services, and to share practice and questions from within the field.
To book a place please download and complete the application form and return it to [email protected]. For further information contact 0113 386 2824.
- Braille Network Supporting Early Literacy Application Form (Word, 116KB)
- Braille Network Supporting Early Literacy Course Details and Programme (Word, 116KB)
The “Effective Teaching of Literacy Through Braille” online training course
When: Six-month online course, which begins in January 2019
Where: Online
More details: Developed by RNIB in partnership with the Department for Education and the National Sensory Impairment Partnership, the course is aimed at qualified teachers of children and young people with vision impairment (QTVIs) to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence in teaching braille to children. The course is written and tutored by QTVIs who are specialists in braille literacy. Those who pass the course will gain a certificate from VIEW, the professional association for the vision impairment education workforce.
The course involves around 80 hours of work and costs £750, with a £100 discount for members of VIEW. To find out more and book your place, please visit the VIEW website or email: [email protected].
Exam update on test and exam arrangements for pupils with vision impairment
When: Wednesday 9 January 2019, 9.15am – 3.15pm
Where: RNIB, 105 Judd Street, London, WC1H 9NE
Cost: £40 (£30 for VIEW members)
When: Thursday 10 and Friday 11 January (various times available)
Where: Remote-access two-hour Skype session
Cost: £20 (£10 for VIEW members)
More details: In collaboration with VIEW, we are delighted to offer the annual exam update day for QTVIs, SENCOs, teachers and teaching assistants about supporting pupils with vision impairment in statutory tests and exams.
For the first time, there is an opportunity to choose whether to attend the face-to-face event in London or to engage in a remote access version where the content will be delivered via a 2-hour interactive Skype session at a reduced cost.
For full details of both delivery options, please download the programmes:
To book a place either at the London event, or for one of the Skype sessions, please complete the following booking form and return to [email protected]:
Unified English Braille training delivered at your establishment
When: At a time that suits you
Where: RNIB continues to offer the services of an experienced braille trainer who can visit your school or college to deliver a day of training in Unified English Braille (UEB).
More details: If you're already familiar with Standard English Braille, but want to up your skills to UEB, this bespoke one-day course could be for you. You'll need to be proficient in SEB before enrolling and the course will include a practical element.
For further details visit our one-day literary braille course page.
VITAL network (Visual Impairment Touches All Learning)
When: To be confirmed
More details: Do you work with children and young people with complex needs and visual impairment? Would you like to get together with others in the same field? Facilitated by RNIB, VITAL brings together teaching and associated professionals working with children and young people with complex needs and vision impairment. Our members work in schools, services, early years and health settings. Join us, and we’ll be in touch about networking, professional development and training opportunities - email [email protected]
Further information about VITAL:
Online training: Vision impairment and complex needs in children and young people
When: You can apply at anytime to begin and there is a flexible start date.
Where: Online
More details: This short course focuses specifically on children and young people who, as well as vision impairment, also have learning difficulties and other special needs or disabilities. The course has been written by experts in the field and created by an experienced instructional designer. It is studied online over around 50 hours with the pace of learning being set by the student. Students are assigned a tutor who provides “light touch” support. The course is designed for students from any background – education, care or health. It is suitable for professionals and parents, in fact, anyone who is interested in facilitating development in children and young people who have vision impairment and complex needs.
The cost of the course is £200 (£140 for VIEW members). For more information and to apply, visit the VIEW website.
Online training: Understanding visual impairment in children and young people
When: You can begin anytime. There is no fixed start or finish date.
Where: Online
More details: The course is designed to support the training needs of professionals and parents in order to improve the quality of learning opportunities available to children and young people with visual impairment. It is intended for people who wish to gain an overview of the issues involved in supporting the education of children with vision impairment, without studying in the depth required by Partners in Learning. The content is drawn mainly from existing material used in RNIB’s accredited level 3 BTEC "Partners in Learning" course. You don’t need to have access to a child with vision impairment to complete the course – we can supply you with relevant video materials to support you.
The cost of the course is £200 (£140 for VIEW members). For more information and to apply, visit the VIEW website.