As 85% of learning normally takes place through our eyes, blind or partially sighted children lack a crucial means of acquiring information and knowledge about the world they are living in. They need extra help if they are to achieve their potential.

St Vincent's is particularly suited to accepting pupils with low or failing vision since it caters for youngsters within the whole range of visual impairment including totally blind. Pupils are accepted at every Key Stage of the National Curriculum.

At St Vincent's there is a wealth of expertise from well qualified staff to give pupils the optimum conditions for learning by tactile or visual methods. All degrees of vision are catered for, from those of the four year old child, blind since birth, to the teenager facing adulthood with little or no sight.

Each visual defect presents a set of problems unique to that pupil. After seeking advice from doctors, psychologists, therapists and other appropriate professionals, staff, pupils and parents work together to equip the young person with the confidence and skill to achieve as high a degree of independence as possible.

Instruction and guidance are provided on a one to one basis, in mobility and orientation, daily living skills, use of modern technology, and management of low vision. Pupils are individually assessed and advised as to choice of lighting, writing equipment, size of print and use of low vision aids.

Equipment is provided to suit each pupil's needs, including desk and lap top computers with modifications of speech and print, tape recorders and taped materials, adapted braillers, aids to vision, enlarged print books and diagrams, modified braille books, tactile diagrams and apparatus, paper in various colours, sizes and line widths.

Well qualified, specialist staff provide individual tuition in reading and writing through braille and enlarged print with the aid of technology.

Braille

At St Vincent's, Braille is an important part of the curriculum. Blind children develop literacy skills through Braille from the earliest years. They begin to develop tactile skills through structured play and other pre-braille activities then move on to use recognised reading schemes specially formulated for young Braille users. Individual Braille lessons are determined as appropriate.

Other pupils with deteriorating vision are given individual tuition in Braille, working on one of the schemes assigned for Secondary pupils transferring from print to Braille.

All Braille users start with a Perkins Brailler, which can be modified to specific needs where a pupil does not have full manipulative skills in both hands. They move on to personal computers as appropriate. Staff keep fully abreast of developments in Braille computer software.