New framework to boost education of children with vision impairment

The framework will address the jigsaw provision and ensure children and young people with vision impairment - The University of Birmingham along with major Vision impairment organisations have launched a new single unifying framework to underpin the specialist education of children and young people with VI. The Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI) has been developed by VICTAR - University of Birmingham, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), , Professional Association for the Vision Impairment Education Workforce (VIEW) and Thomas Pocklington Trust to support children and young people with vision impairment aged from 0 - 25 access an appropriate and equitable education. Children and young people with vision impairment need to be actively taught a range of independent learning, mobility, everyday living, and social communication skills. Currently access to those learning areas and specialists who teach them can vary from region to region meaning many young people are missing out. The organisations plan to engage with Government education departments to ensure the framework reaches every child and young person with VI in the UK, through measures such as being referred to in official guidance or receiving statutory status. The CFVI presents outcomes within 11 teaching areas and its main aim is to clarify and define the elements of specialist skill development, interventions and best practice support that are considered to be essential for children and young people with vision impairment.