When a child or young person has a vision impairment, it can be hard to access the specialist support they need to participate and thrive in education.
The Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI) works to redress that inequality and offers the opportunity to thrive.
Since its launch almost two years ago, the CFVI has been used by specialist and non-specialist practitioners, children and young people with vision impairment aged 0-25, and their families and carers to unlock and navigate necessary support and education.
The framework provides a shared language and agreed approach for both specialist and non-specialist education professionals to collaborate with and support blind and partially sighted children and young people.
It promotes best practice, empowering children and young people with the right support at the right time, allowing equity in their education, and the opportunity to thrive.
“The CFVI provides us with a tool to help explain and prioritise the needs of the whole child,” says Amanda Bayley-Sunter, Qualified Teacher of Children and Young People with Vision Impairment and Manager of Doncaster’s Service for Children with Vision Impairment.
“The need to teach skills for independence is central to the framework, enabling our work to focus on what life is going to be like for that child through to adulthood, and what needs to be put in place to prepare them for that.”
The students understand that the CFVI meets their needs and gives a firm base for the future, highlighting the importance of the child’s voice.
In addition to providing a relevant curriculum framework, it helps facilitate a more inclusive world.
The CFVI was developed by the University of Birmingham, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, my own organisation (Thomas Pocklington Trust), VIEW (the professional association for the vision impairment education workforce), and sector partners following extensive consultation.
We’re still working together to embed the CFVI into policy and practice across the UK – and we’re here to help you do that locally with a collection of useful resources and guidance.
Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national charity that supports blind and partially sighted people, with a focus on education, employment and engagement. Visit www.pocklington.org.uk to find out more and to access the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI) and other resources.