Starting out

Education

The Starting out series aims to give people who are losing or have recently lost their sight essential information about living with sight loss. Other titles in the series are:

• Benefits, concessions and registration

• Employment

• Emotional support

• Help from social services

• Housing

• Making the most of your sight

All these leaflets are available in audio, print and braille formats. To order please contact our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 (all calls charged at local rate), email helpline@rnib.org.uk or visit rnib.org.uk/shop. If you or someone you know is living with sight loss, we’re here to help.

For a full list of the information sources used in any of these titles please contact publishing@rnib.org.uk

About the Starting out series

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Contents

Support for parents and children 5

Support for students in further or higher education 12

Support for adult learners 16

Your rights in education 17

Further information 18

Introduction 4

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There is help available to support blind or partially sighted children, young people and adults to make the most of education. This guide has information to help you make an informed decision about your next steps.

Introduction

Carys’s story

“ Carys attended a mainstream primary school where particular staff were especially trained to teach children with vision impairment. The support from the QTVI made communication between me, Carys and the school more understandable, as well as helping Carys to achieve her true potential. This support not only provided Carys with academic support but also assured a typical level of self confidence from a young age which helped to develop her social skills. The support that Carys received also made things much easier to cope with for me as I could see that Carys was doing very well both academically and socially.”

Carys’s mother

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Help available from your local authorityIf you haven’t already, get in touch with your local authority because they have a range of services to help you and your child.

Your local authority will be able to assess your child’s needs and provide advice about what support is available.

Find your local authority by visiting gov.uk/find-your-local-council

Support for parents and children

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Sensory Impairment TeamEach local authority should have an education service for children with a sensory impairment such as sight loss. The Sensory Impairment Team, sometimes called the Vision Impairment Team or Sensory Support Service, can provide information and advice about the educational support that is available for your child. This team can also support you if your child has additional disabilities or complex needs.

You can find details of your local Sensory Support Service or Vision Impairment Team using RNIB’s Sightline directory. Visit sightlinedirectory.org.uk

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Qualified Teacher of children and young people with Vision Impairment (QTVI)Your local authority will also have a specialist teacher (QTVI) who will be able to offer guidance about your child’s education, from infancy through to further and higher education.

Your child’s QTVI will provide guidance on a range of educational and developmental matters. For example, your QTVI will provide advice about how your child can learn to read, how teachers can involve them in lessons, the need for teaching assistance and how technology can help. They will also provide guidance about developing social skills by encouraging interaction with other children.

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Most QTVIs will begin to support your child from birth, or from when your child is diagnosed with an eye condition. It is not just a service for school-age children. They can help you with support and ideas for play and learning in the early years. They will then help you as you consider options for nursery and school.

Statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN)All children with a sight condition that can’t be corrected with glasses are entitled to an assessment of their educational needs. This assessment should involve the input of a QTVI. Your views and experiences will also be taken into account.

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Depending on how much support your child will need, your local authority may draw up a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN). This is an important document that sets out all the help your child needs and who is responsible for delivering it. These statements may be replaced with what are called “Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans” from 2014.

If your child does not require a Statement of SEN or an EHC plan, support can still be provided in early years and school settings through the QTVI and other staff, such as a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator). This level of support is known as School Action, School Action Plus or SEN support.

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Education settingsAs a parent of a blind or partially sighted child, you will need to choose which type of educational setting is right for your child. Very broadly, there are four options:

1 a mainstream setting

2 a mainstream setting that has additional resources for disabled children, for example an on-site “resource base”

3 a specialist setting that supports children with different types of disabilities

4 a specialist setting that focuses specifically on supporting blind and partially sighted learners.

Your local authority can help you to choose the right setting for your child.

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Help available from RNIBOur website has a list of specialist schools and colleges, including those operated by RNIB. Visit rnib.org.uk/education

You can also search RNIB’s Sightline directory for specialist schools and colleges for blind and partially sighted people. Visit sightlinedirectory.org.uk

RNIB’s Parents Place has information and advice for parents of blind and partially sighted children and young people. There is information on toys and play, early learning, financial support, stories from other parents and understanding your child’s vision. Visit rnib.org.uk/parents

To stay up to date, you can also subscribe to RNIB’s Insight magazine for parents of blind or partially sighted children. Visit rnib.org.uk/insightmagazine or call 0303 123 9999 to subscribe.

Help available from other organisationsThe National Children’s Bureau has an Early Support resource and information section for parents. Visit ncb.org.uk/earlysupport

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Once you have finished school you may be considering applying to college or university. This is an exciting time but it is really important to plan well in advance, so that you choose the right course and the right college or university for you. It is also important to ensure that everything is in place for your first day, so that you don’t have to worry about any issues with your equipment or support and then you can concentrate on making friends and settling in.

Support for students in further or higher education

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Support available through colleges or universitiesAll educational establishments should have a Disability Office or Student Support Department dedicated to providing information, advice and practical support for students with disabilities including those with a sight problem. Make contact with this department before visiting any prospective colleges or universities, so that you can discuss your requirements with them and find out how they can meet these requirements.

The type of support they may be able to offer could include arranging extra time for examinations, assistance with studying, equipment and funding applications.

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Financial supportIf you are planning to take a course in higher education (and some further education courses in Scotland), you can apply for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). DSA is a grant that can help meet the extra costs students face because of a disability. The grant is not means-tested and you don’t have to pay it back. You are also allowed to keep any equipment bought with your DSA.

You can use a DSA to pay for:

• specialist equipment and technology you need for studying

• non-medical helpers, such as note-takers or readers

• extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability

• other costs such as photocopying or printer cartridges

• mobility training and support.

You can find out more about DSA and other funding for higher education by visiting rnib.org.uk/startinguniversity

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Help available from RNIBRNIB has a range of information about starting college and university, as well as leaving home. Visit:

• rnib.org.uk/startingcollege• rnib.org.uk/startinguniversity• rnib.org.uk/leavinghome

There is a free guide available for young people aged 14-25 who are blind or partially sighted and live in England. The “Your future, your choice: bridging the gap” guide outlines the support and services that are available to help you on your journey from school, to higher and further education and on to employment. You can download the guide from rnib.org.uk/bridgingthegap or you can email cypf@rnib.org.uk to get a copy of the guide in print or on audio CD.

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Whether you are attending an adult learning course at a university or college, taking a course at a specialist establishment, or taking a computer class with your local sight loss charity, there should be help available to support you with your learning.

Ask the course provider what arrangements they can make to support you before you book on to your course.

Please remember that organisations have a legal obligation to make course information and materials available to you in an alternative format, for example in large print, braille, audio or electronic text.

RNIB has information about where you can go to learn, funding that might be available to help and technology solutions. Visit rnib.org.uk/adultlearning

Support for adult learners

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Blind and partially sighted people have a right to an education free from discrimination and harassment because of their sight condition.

Under the Equality Act 2010, educational institutions must anticipate the needs of disabled learners and make reasonable adjustments to ensure that they and other disabled students are not treated unfairly, and are able to access the curriculum and wider learning experiences. Reasonable adjustments may include:

• providing course materials in alternative formats such as large print, braille, audio or electronic text

• for online courses, this means making sure electronic materials and specialised software are accessible

• providing examination materials in alternative formats and perhaps giving extra time to complete them

• providing support workers or teaching assistants.

You can get more information about the Equality Act 2010, including a factsheet about the Equality Act and education by visiting rnib.org.uk/equalityact or by calling our Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

Your rights in education

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RNIBOur website has information about all aspects of education for blind and partially sighted people – from early years right through to adult education. Visit rnib.org.uk/education

You can also call our Helpline for education advice. Call 0303 123 9999.

Action for Blind People If you live in England, Action for Blind People offer services for children, young people and families. Action for Blind People also have advisers who can give guidance on education and making the transition from study to work. Visit actionforblindpeople.org.uk

Further information

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Disability Rights UKDisability Rights UK offers a wide range of information and advice to ensure disabled students have specialist support in making decisions about their education, training and employment choices after leaving school. This includes online information for disabled students, families and professionals, factsheets for disabled students and advisors and a helpline/email advice service. disabilityrightsuk.org/disabledstudents.htm The Government website The Government website includes information on a wide range of subjects, including transition into further education and training, employment and welfare benefits. It provides information on applying for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) at university and Access to Work in employment. gov.uk

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Guide Dogs offer a mobility and independence service for young people through critical transition stages such as school to further education or employment or both. For those over 18, services include orientation and mobility skills, independent living skills and communication skills.guidedogs.org.uk

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National Blind Children’s Society (NBCS) The National Blind Children’s Society can provide advice covering early years through to beyond education. They offer young people advice and guidance on educational advocacy, access technology as well as a nationwide programme of events for young people. nbcs.org.uk

SenseSense is a national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind. They offer services across the UK, such as information, events, groups and advice to professionals. They work with a wide range of deafblind and multi-sensory impaired children and young people, as well as those who have a single-sensory impairment with additional needs.sense.org.uk

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12370/10/13

The Confident living series is for people who are losing or have recently lost their sight and are trying to build their confidence to continue to lead full and independent lives. Titles in the series are:

• Leisure

• Living safely

• Managing your money

• Reading

• Shopping

• Technology

• Travel

All these leaflets are available in audio, print and braille formats. To order please contact our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 (all calls charged at local rate), email helpline@rnib.org.uk or visit rnib.org.uk/shop. If you or someone you know is living with sight loss, we’re here to help.

Further information from RNIB

Cover photograph © Anne-Marie BriscombePrinted: October 2013 Review date: October 2014© RNIB Registered charity number 226227ISBN 978-1-4445-0135-3 PR12370P

If you, or someone you know, is living with sight loss, we’re here to help.

Ask RNIB is the simple, easy to use way to find the answers to your questions online – try it today at rnib.org.uk/ask