Education – the differences for blind and partially sighted children and young people

Challenges in Mainstream Education

Nearly 35,000 children and young people are living with a vision impairment in England alone. Approximately half of them will have additional needs, too. As Vision Impairment (VI) is a low incidence disability, many young people who are VI are taught in mainstream schools. And because teachers may only see one or two students with a visual impairment during their whole career, often it can be the case that they’re unsure how to make education an inclusive experience for them.

Specialised Support and Inclusive Education

All VI students should have access to specialised staff such as Qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired (QTVIs) and Registered Qualified Habilitation Specialists (RQHSs).

Learning for VI students must be explicit and structured – it needs to be supported in a specialist way, ensuring that development isn’t delayed and that these young people have every opportunity to reach their full potential. Lack of access to resource material, lack of self-advocacy, isolation, and anxiety can go hand in hand with their educational journey. They need as much multi-sensory learning as possible to enrich their experience, and VI students will generally need more time to process and digest their learning.

Stevie Wonder:

Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes, doesn’t mean he lacks vision.

At RSBC’s Dorton College, we specialise in helping young people between the ages of 16 and 25 to fulfil their potential. We’re the only independent specialist Further Education provider for visually impaired students in the South-East of England.

Dorton College support students academically from entry level to level 3. We make sure that they build up a robust portfolio of skills which prepare them for an independent and meaningful life after they leave education. How do we do it? Through a 1:1 supported, bespoke, person-centred programme that includes braille, assisted technology, mobility, independent living skills and employability sessions led by specialist staff including QTVIs, RQHSs and OTs.

Students participate in social opportunities with both mainstream and VI peer groups, so that they’re able to experience inclusion and belonging. They can progress to a varied and exciting range of options after Dorton College, including employment, university, voluntary work and much more.

Here’s what some of our students have to say about Dorton College:

I couldn’t have wished for better support!

It is a friendly environment; I enjoy it, and every day is different. I have made friends, and the staff are nice.

I came to Dorton College because I thought I could become more independent, and I learnt a lot of life skills like cooking and cleaning here. I have good support on my main programme of study and I really love it, although it is very intense as it’s a level 3 course. I know that this course is very hard, but it will get me where I want to be in life.

I decided to come at Dorton College to learn and improve my life skills and to increase my independence. This will give me freedom for my future.

Find out more about Dorton College.

Iconic music and performing arts venue, the Roundhouse in Camden, has provided creative space that empowers people and communities since the 1960s. Its team is focused on unleashing the creative potential of young people and artists, giving them the opportunity to experiment, develop their skills, and be part of unforgettable moments with a lasting impact.

A photo of a young women, Joné sitting at a table wearing black glasses smiling at the camera. She is leaning her head on left fist. She has light brown hair and is wearing a black sleeveless high neck top.

No categories February 14, 2025

A volunteer’s journey: Meet Joné

Joné has been volunteering with RSBC since August 2024. We spoke to her about why she wanted to become a volunteer and what her experience has been like so far.

A young boy with short ginger hair and red glasses expresses joy as he holds a tall glass of chocolate milkshake with whipped cream and a cookie. To the right, a woman with long, curly brown hair and a black and grey striped sweater smiles back at him while holding a yellow cocktail in a stemmed glass. The table is set with silver utensils and a marble surface, and there are decorative plants in the background, contributing to a warm and inviting café atmosphere.

No categories January 30, 2025

George and Nicola’s story

George is an energetic and confident eight-year-old boy who lives in a bustling household with his mum, Nicola, his dad, and his baby brother Ted. It’s a home that’s filled with love and resilience as the family faces the challenges and celebrates the triumphs that vision impairment brings.

The picture features five young individuals walking on a textured cobblestone pathway with a brick and stone backdrop. Two of them are positioned on the right, while three occupy the left. On the centre right is a young man using a white cane. He has short brown hair and is dressed in a blue jacket and jeans. He links arms with a curly ginger-haired young woman wearing all denim. On the centre left stands a young woman in a green shirt and jeans holding a football, a young man holding a binder and another young woman wearing a pink shirt. They are all smiling and looking at the young man with the cane as if he had just said a joke, creating a dynamic composition. The lighting is bright, suggesting it's a sunny day, adding a lively atmosphere to the scene.

No categories January 27, 2025

Preparing for uni: student finance and DSA

Mark Wright, RSBC’s Futures Coordinator, talks about how you can make sure your finances are up and running before you head off to university.

A small boy, on the stage of The Snowman, exploring the set. He's standing in front of an over-sized pink dressing table. Next to him is a staff member from the theatre, talking him through the set and props.

No categories January 13, 2025

Our adventure with The Snowman

In December we were invited to audio-described performance of ‘The Snowman’ at the Sadlers Wells, Peacock Theatre, along with a touch tour of the set, props and costumes.

Patrick, a light skinned man white grey/white hair and Julie, a light skinned woman with long brown hair standing and smiling next to each other with a RSBC photo frame around them

No categories January 9, 2025

Here’s to 2025: a year of hope and possibility

As the new year dawns, many of us will find ourselves reflecting on what we’ve accomplished so far, and what the future holds. As RSBC’s CEO, it’s certainly something that I’ve been doing in recent days. As I look ahead to the next 12 months, I feel so much hope for what this tremendous organisation […]

Family holiday activity. Top view of mother's and kid's hands making Christmas tree cookies on wooden table background.

No categories December 10, 2024

How to make Christmas accessible for blind and partially sighted children

There’s no more special time of year for children – whether they’re five or 50! – than Christmas. It’s a time when there’s magic everywhere, and it’s filled with colour and sparkle. But how can you make sure that children with vision impairment (VI) are able to enjoy the fun and laughter that’s part and […]

A group of young people stand in front of a wooden climbing frame.

No categories November 19, 2024

Boys Crew: why International Men’s Day matters

Each November 19th, the UK celebrates International Men’s Day. It’s not just about celebrating the contribution that men and boys make to our society – this special day also focuses on making a positive difference to their well-being and lives, raises awareness the support available to them, and promotes meaningful conversations about men, manhood and […]

No categories November 7, 2024

Narayan’s story

RSBC’s trustees have shared responsibility for governing our charity, and Narayan’s been a trustee since September 2024. We caught up with him to find out why he’d decided to take this step, and just what being a trustee involves.

Callum, a light skinned man with dark hair, wearing a grey long sleeved shirt with black buttons. He is standing behind a podium lecture desk, with a microphone attached to the top of the desk. Callum is standing in front of a white banner with RSBC written in large orange text, and Royal Society for Blind Children written in small text underneath, there is a thin orange line underneath this text. Underneath the orange line Dorton College is written in black medium sized text. In the bottom left hand corner there is a yellow shape similar to two halves of a flower petal.

No categories November 4, 2024

Callum’s Story

Callum’s been a trustee with RSBC since May 2021. He’s also the Chair of Governors of RSBC’s Dorton College, a specialist further education college for vision impaired young people aged 16-25. We spoke to Callum about what’s involved in being a trustee, why he does it, and what to consider if you’re thinking about becoming […]