RNIB response to the Schools white paper

Craig Brown, Head of Education and Children Services at RNIB, said: “The reforms proposed in the Schools Whitepaper directly impact children and young people with vision impairments. We need the right tailored support for every child with vision impairment, whether that's in mainstream schools or in specialist settings, with support plans that have legal status available to those who need them.

There are an estimated 35,000 children and young people with vision impairment in England - it’s vital that their needs are explicitly addressed. We know that 70 per cent of children with vision impairment are in mainstream education. It is crucial that local authority VI services are appropriately resourced, have the staff and money required to make sure specialist support is provided to all who need it in mainstream settings."

"Specialist provision must be based on an assessment of need by appropriate professionals, including a qualified teacher of children and young people with vision impairment (QTVI) and a Registered Qualified Habilitation Specialist (RQHS). Vision impairment is a lifelong disability and for most learners the underlying need for ongoing specialist input will remain throughout their education so they can learn and develop the skills and understanding to achieve age-appropriate outcomes in line with their sighted peers. Our latest Freedom of Information (FOI) research in England found, one in four local authority VI services that provided information have failed to see their budget maintained in real terms between 2023 and 2024. On top of this, one in five local authority VI services reported a decrease in the numbers of specialist teachers for vision impairment."

“We strongly urge the Department for Education to endorse and implement the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI) within its SEND policies as part of the implementation of these reforms. Having Government recognition would ensure every child with vision impairment has access to the consistent, high-quality specialist support they need to thrive alongside their sighted peers. However, a curriculum framework alone is not enough. We need the Secretary of State to address the specialist workforce crisis as a matter of urgency, with a dedicated SEND workforce strategy that addresses specialist shortages and enables effective CFVI implementation.

We stand ready to work with the Government to ensure no child with vision impairment is left behind in these reforms.”