Specialist Curriculum

In March 2022 RNIB and VI partner organisations launched the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI). The framework was developed to support children and young people with vision impairment access an appropriate and equitable education, as well as offering a shared vocabulary for children and young people, families and professionals in the UK who work with them. You can access the framework at www.rnib.org.uk/cfvi. 

In spring 2023 we circulated email invitations to ALL Local Authorities, Special Schools and Specialist Provisions to take part in an evaluation survey which investigates the implementation of the CFVI across the UK. The objective of this survey was for us to learn more about service providers views towards, and experiences of, using the CFVI. We were really pleased to have a huge response from across the VI sector and have received helpful feedback which in turn has helped shape our training offer and has informed our policy response.We are currently undertaking our second round of evaluation, which will focus particularly on any adjustments which may be needed to the CFVI. If you took part in the first round, please look out for an email with a direct link to this survey.

If your organisation was unable to take part last year, we would still very much appreciate your contribution for the rest of the project. Please contact Rachel Hewett at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who will provide you with more information. We are asking for one representative from each organisation to complete the questionnaire. If you are unsure whether a colleague in your organisation has received or completed this survey and would like to check with us or take part, please also check this with Rachel.

We would really welcome your views. Thank you in anticipation.

The specialist deaf curriculum framework (SDCF) has been launched by BATOD on 21st February 2024. It is available here: https://www.batod.org.uk/resources-category/specialist-deaf-curriculum-framework/ and has been written to support deaf babies, children, young people, and their families to develop knowledge and make informed and independent decisions about their deafness, from identification through to adulthood.

The deaf curriculum framework project began in February 2021 as an initiative from a NatSIP training event, and has been jointly funded and steered by BATOD and the NDCS.

Working with partners across the sector and the UK, RNIB have developed a suite of 12 PowerPoint resources and an accompanying training manual focusing on the 11 different key areas of the CFVI, plus an overview PowerPoint.

These resources can be used by specialists working with Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CYPVI) in the field of VI education to support training to key stakeholders and to encourage and support the embedding of the CFVI within all settings.

Get your copies now at: www.rnib.org.uk/cfvi

The Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI) was developed to support children and young people with vision impairment access an appropriate and equitable education.

We are pleased to announce the launch of our CFVI Parent and Carer Guide, which has been produced to help parents and carers understand and use the CFVI when talking to professionals about a child’s education.

The CFVI can be used to enable parents and carers to understand the pathways of support for their child and the services who may be involved in providing that support within a given nationwide context. This increased understanding of the key areas of learning for children and young people (CYP) with vision impairment along with the common language and shared vocabulary that the CFVI provides, should enable parents to feel more comfortable and confident when meeting professionals to discuss a child’s progress and participation in education and the wider world.

The guide is written by and for parents and carers and provides information about how to best use the CFVI to advocate for CYP with vision impairment, including first-hand experiences and example questions that can be adapted for use in meetings with the professionals who form a key part of a child’s education journey.

Download your copy now at: www.rnib.org.uk/cfvi

 

Following the very successful development and launch, in March 2022, of the UKs first Curriculum Framework for children, young people with vision impairment (CFVI) we are delighted to be entering phase 2, of a three-year implementation phase.

The initial funding for the Development Phase (September 2020 – August 2022) has enabled RNIB in partnership with the Vision Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR) at University of Birmingham, the professional association of the Vision Impairment Education Workforce (VIEW), and Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) to develop the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI) and accompanying resource hub, but this is only the beginning of the work. This resource will have a huge positive impact on the lives of children with a vision impairment across the UK and we need, therefore, to continue the work and ensure sector UK wide implementation.

The embedding of the CFVI within the UK sector and official guidance will provide a formalised sector-agreed best-practice curriculum framework which identifies and secures the needs of CYP with VI and provision to meet them, allowing parents to easily identify the support their children need and ensuring CYP can celebrate the progress of their skills, and recognise the unique abilities that equip them for their future.

Curriculum guidance for professionals and families is available from partner SI organisations.

These are free of charge and can be downloaded from their websites.

For example:

NDCS: https://www.ndcs.org.uk/documents-and-resources/

Helping Your Deaf Child To Develop Early Maths Skills (3-4 Year Olds)

Helping Your Deaf Child to Develop Maths Skills (5-11 Year Olds)

As part of our NatSIP/NDCS supporting achievement publications there is also

Supporting the achievement of deaf children who use English as an additional language (EAL)

 

Described by its principal author, Dr Heather Murdoch, as a Toolkit with attitude this document provides extensive support materials for those implementing the Victoria School MSI Curriculum, or considering its implementation for CYP with MSI.

The toolkit examines the practical issues, policies and procedures needed to successfully implement the Victoria School MSI Curriculum, and offers a range of worked examples and case studies.

The following documents are available folder here in the NatSIP Document Library:

 

New research has been published by Coventry University and the University of Warwick on literacy difficulties and undiagnosed hearing impairment, (http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/news/screen-children-reading-difficulties-more-thoroughly-hearing-problems-says-new-report).

Glue ear or mild/moderate hearing loss can have a major impact. All professionals need to be alert to the signs of hearing loss, particularly in children whose deafness was not identified at birth or who have acquired deafness during childhood, and that any parental or professional concerns about hearing are always taken seriously and acted on.

Resources from the National Deaf Children’s Society for parents and professionals may be helpful and can be found at www.ndcs.org.uk/mildmoderate and

www.ndcs.org.uk/glueear.

  1. Victoria School MSI Curriculum