Schools with a resource-base for visually impaired pupils
About this factsheet
This factsheet gives details of schools and colleges which have a resource-base for visually impaired pupils. The term 'resource-based school' can be used to describe any mainstream school (or college) that has a specialist visually impaired resource/support centre for blind or partially sighted pupils. This would typically include specialist equipment and trained specialist teaching staff and Learning support assistants. Schools are listed by region/country, and alphabetically. Please note that this list is not yet definitive.
London and the South East
Brookfields School
Sage Road, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 6SW
Tel: 0118 9421382
Email:
Web:
Brookfields have a Sensory Resource Base which offers specialist
provision for learners with a range of sensory impairments - visual,
hearing and deafblind. The resource is staffed by teachers who hold the
mandatory visual impairment, hearing impairment, and multi-sensory impairment qualifications, and they also have the services of a Habilitation and Mobility Officer. They offer places to learners in the age ranges 2-19.
Crown Woods College
145 Bexley Road, Eltham, SE9 2PT
Tel: 020 88507678
Email:
Web:
Reculver C of E Primary School
Hillborough, Herne Bay, Kent , CT6 6TA
Tel: 01227 375907
Fax: 01227 742761
Email:
Web:
Reculver C of E Primary School has had a fully equipped Specialist Resource Base Provision for vision impaired children for 23 years. It has a team of fully qualified and experienced Teaching Assistants all of whom are competent braillists and who work 1-1 with the children. The team is led by a visiting QTVI and an in house QTVI in training. The school promotes independent learning and all written materials are adapted or brailled to meet the needs of individual children. The base has a wide range of resources including: a selection of games, tactile maps and globe, talking scales and maths equipment.
George Abbot School
Woodruff Avenue, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1XX
Tel: 01483 888000
Email:
Web:
Great Binfields Primary
Binfields Farm Lane, Chineham, Basingstoke, RG24 8AJ
Tel: 01256 460532
Email:
Web:
Great Binfields has a fully equipped resource base to support the needs of children with visual impairment, along with a full-time Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (QTVI), learning support assistants and a technician to cater for the modification and adaptation of resources. The school is capable of supporting up to 10 children with visual impairment. The school is able to provide opportunities to follow an additional curriculum working on braille, touch typing and life skills. These activities can be undertaken within or out of the classroom. They also provide an in-reach facility that is an opportunity for children from other schools who have a visual impairment to come and join in with appropriate activities such as Goal-ball, tactile awareness art, craft and cooking.
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
Surley Row, Emmer Green, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 8LR
Tel: 0118 901 5800
Fax: 0118 901 5801
Email:
Web:
The VI Resource at Highdown supports independent learning for students with a visual impairment within a mainstream secondary school. Students are supported by a teacher for the visually impaired and experienced teaching assistants. Their aim is for their students to be catered for socially and academically in mainstream classes, but to recognise that at times students require additional support. This includes support on a one to one basis, in small groups and in the classroom, plus the acquisition of mobility, ICT and braille skills and the availability of a social area in the resource.The Resource has equipment to produce enlarged resources, plus braille and raised illustrations. Equipment available for the students' use includes laptops that are compatible with the school network, optical and electronic magnifiers, and Kindles for reading electronic books.The VI Resource is currently funded for 8 students who have statements for a visual impairment.
Kings Copse Primary School
Kings Copse Road, Hedge End, Southampton, Hampshire, SO30 0PQ
Tel: 01489 785040
Fax: 01489 785040
Email:
Web:
Kings Copse Primary School has a purpose built resource base for children with a visual impairment, known as the OASIS (Outreach And Sight Impairment Support). The OASIS is staffed by a Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (QTVI) and learning support assistants who specialise in visual impairment (VI). The resource base offers room for quiet working and access to a range of specialist resources suitable for children with VI. The children with VI spend most of their time in class where they are supported as necessary by the VI Team. They also offer 'in-reach' sessions where children with VI across Hampshire are invited to attend themed sessions once a month. This means that parents (with their children) can access their provision even if their child attends their local mainstream school.
Oxted School
Bluehouse Lane, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0AB
Tel: 01883 712425
Email:
Web:
St Stephen’s Church of England Primary School
Hunters Chase, South Godstone, Surrey, RH9 8HR
Tel: 01342 892219 / VI Resource Base: 01342 892706
Fax: 01342 892407
Email:
Web:
Sythwood Primary School
Sythwood, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 3AX
Tel: 01483 770063
Fax: 01483 767414
Email:
Web:
Sythwood Primary School has a specialist centre to support children with a visual impairment. It is staffed by specialist teachers and experienced teaching assistants who modify and adapt resources depending on the needs of each child. They have resources to enhance the learning of a child using braille or large print materials.
Toynbee School
Bodycoats Road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 2PL
Tel: 023 8026 9026
Email:
Web:
Westbrook Primary
Westbrook Road, Heston, Hounslow, London, TW5 0NB
Tel: 0208 5709942
Email:
Westbrook Primary is a new purpose built VI specialist Primary school with VI Provision for up to 10 students. It is staffed by 2 specialist teachers for students with visual impairment and 1 experienced Learning Support Assistant with HLTA and BTEC Level 3 in Visual Impairment. Each child benefits from modified or adapted resources specific to his/her needs. The children with VI spend most of their time in class where they are supported as necessary by the VI team and use the Provision when they need access to specialist teaching. The school can provide opportunities to follow an additional curriculum including access to learning Braille, touch typing and life skills.
Woking High School
Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ
Tel: 01483 888447
Fax: 01483 888448
Email:
Web:
East England
Nene Park Academy
Sensory Support Service, Nene Park Academy, Oundle Road, Peterborough, PE2 7EA
Tel: 01733 368300
Fax: 01733 368333
Email:
Website:
South West
Broadlands School
St Francis Road, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 2DY
Tel: 0117 9864791
Fax: 0117 9161102
Email:
Web:
Emersons Green Primary school
Guest Avenue, Emersons Green, Bristol, BS16 7GA
Tel: 01454 867474
Fax: 01454 867475
Email:
Web:
Emersons Green is a fully inclusive, mainstream primary school. The school has specialist provision for up to 14 pupils with visual impairment or physical disability. Pupils are included in their mainstream class and supported by a Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (QTVI) and specialist teaching assistants.
Midlands
Bournville School and Sixth Form Centre
Leading Edge, Business Enterprise and Music College, Griffins Brook Lane, Birmingham, B30 1QJ
Tel: 0121 475 3881
Fax: 0121 483 2349
Email:
Web:
Castlecroft Primary School
Windmill Crescent, Castlecroft, WV38HS
Tel: 01902 556606
Fax: 01902 556608
Email:
Castlecroft Primary School is a combined Infant and Junior school with a Nursery class attached. They have provision for the education of a limited number of partially sighted and registered blind children who are all integrated within the school. Qualified teachers of the visually impaired (QTVIs) and trained VI Nursery Nurses work together as the school's support team for the VI pupils.
Christ the King Catholic Primary School
Warren Farm School, Kingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands, B44 0QN
Tel: 0121 464 9800
Email:
Web:
Plantsbrook School
Upper Holland Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B72 1RB
Tel: 0121 362 7310 ex222
Fax: 0121 362 7311
Email:
Web:
Smestow School
Windmill crescent, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton, WV3 8HU
Tel: +44 (0) 1902 558585
Fax: +44 (0) 1902 558586
Email:
Web:
World’s End Infant and Nursery School
World’s End Lane, Quinton, Birmingham, B32 2SA
Tel: 0121 422 0453
Email:
Web:
World's End Junior School
Worlds End Lane, Birmingham, B32 2SA
Tel: 0121 4645913
Email:
Web:
Yorkshire, Humberside and North East
King's Academy
Stainton Way, Middlesbrough, TS8 0GA
Tel: 01642 577 577
Fax: 01642 590 204
Email:
Web:
Northfield School and Sports College
Thames Road, Billingham, Cleveland, TS22 5EG
Tel: 01642 557 373
Fax: 01642 360 392
Email:
Web:
Northfield has a resource base to support the needs of children with visual impairment. The base is staffed by a full-time Qualified Teacher ofthe Visually Impaired (QTVI) and teaching assistants who support in class and cater for the modification and adaptation of resources. Pupils are integrated in the mainstream school and able to access the full curriculum.
Sunnyside Primary
Sunnyside Primary School, Manor Farm Way, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, TS8 0RJ
Tel: 01642 596422
Fax: 01642 599500
Email:
Web:
North West
Gateacre School
Hedgefield Road, Liverpool L25 2RW
Tel: 0151 235 1400
Email:
Web:
All pupils attend mainstream classes and the VI Team covers pupils in 7 Outreach Schools at present (secondary) within the Liverpool LEA boundary.
Scotland
Darnley Primary School
169 Glen Moriston Road, Darnley, Glasgow, G53 7HT
Tel: 0141 638 8009
Fax: 0141 620 3778
Email:
Web:
Knowetop Primary
Head of Establishment, Learning and Leisure Services, Knowetop Avenue, Motherwell, ML1 2AG
Tel: 01698 262610 / 269396
Email:
Uddingston Grammar School
Old Glasgow Road, Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, Rosshall Academy, Glasgow
Tel: +44 (0)1698 805050
Fax: +44 (0)1698 805051
Email:
Web:
Wales
Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School
Afan Valley Road, Cimla, Neath, Neath Port Talbot, SA11 3TA
Tel: 01639 791 300
Fax: 01639 791 339
Email:
Web:
Neath Port Talbot College
Dwr-y-Felin Road, Neath, SA10 7RF
Tel: 01639 648000 (Switchboard) / 01639 648075 (Helen John, Sensory)
Fax: 01639 648009
Email:
Web:
Pencoed Comprehensive
Coychurch Rd, Pencoed, Bridgend, CF35 5LZ.
Tel: 01656 867100
Fax: 01656 867107
Email:
Web:
Pencoed Junior School
Penprysg Road, Pencoed, Bridgend, CF35 6RH, Wales
Fax: 01656 815734
Email:
Web:
For further information about RNIB
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), and its associate charity Action for Blind People, provide a range of services to support children with visual impairment, their families and the professionals who work with them.
RNIB Helpline can refer you to specialists for further advice and guidance relating to your situation. RNIB Helpline can also help you by providing information and advice on a range of topics, such as eye health, the latest products, leisure opportunities, benefits advice and emotional support.
Call the Helpline team on 0303 123 9999 or email
Factsheet updated: May 2014
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