The Local Authority Resourced Provision (LARP) for children and young people with vision impairment based at Hanson Academy is part of the Bradford Council Specialist Teaching and Support Services team. (STaSS). Our vision as the STaSS team is:
“To offer high quality support for all children through a collaborative approach to provide transformational learning experiences so that children and young people can flourish and make excellent holistic progress and successfully transition to responsible citizens”
Admissions
There are 14 places in the Resourced Provision. All children and young people with a place have an Educational Health and Care Plan with vision impairment identified as their main need.
Specialist Staff
In the Resourced Provision staff team, we have qualified teachers of the vision impaired (QTVI) and vision impairment specialist support assistants (VISSA). In addition, the team includes a Special Practioner for Vision Impairment Education and a Special Practioner meeting the social, emotional and mental health needs of pupils in the Resourced Provision. They are trained in a range of skills including teaching braille, supporting tactile learning as well being able to use specialist equipment to modify resources so that all learners can access the curriculum.
In addition, specialist teaching in Independent Living Skills and in Mobility and Orientation is provided by Habilitation Specialists. Technical Support for teaching pupils how to access technology is also provided by a Technical Officer.
Access to specialist sports coaching is provided by the charity, LYRC. Their coaches develop pupils’ skills and enjoyment in indoor rowing to a level where they can compete in National Championships. In addition students are given opportunities to experience on water rowing.
Music tuition is available through the Amber Trust when parents have been successful in applying for a grant for an instrument and tuition. Currently there are pupils having tuition in vocal skills, playing the piano and playing the guitar.
Students competing in the National Indoor Rowing Championships 2024
The Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI)
Launched in 2022, this has been developed to support children and young people with vision impairment access an appropriate and equitable education. It forms the basis of the additional curriculum accessed by the children and young people in the VI LARP.
The framework presents outcomes within 11 areas:
- Facilitating an Inclusive World
- Sensory Development
- Communication
- Literacy
- Orientation and Mobility
- Independent Living Skills
- Accessing information
- Technology
- Health: Social, Emotional, Mental and Physical Wellbeing
- Social, Sports and Leisure
- Preparing for Adulthood
At the heart of the Framework is a set of three fundamental aims:
- To help clarify and define the elements of specialist skill development, interventions and best practice support that are essential for children and young people with vision impairment.
- To assist qualified specialist practitioners in raising the awareness amongst other professionals and parents of the need for children and young people with vision impairment to be taught skills that enable them to access the curriculum and the wider world with as much independence as possible.
- To aid discussions and understanding amongst all involved in a child/young person’s education of how and when these skills should be taught by suitably qualified specialists and reinforced by non-specialists.