Education advice

To learn effectively, children with aniridia often need additional help. ‘Special educational needs’ (SEN) services vary greatly across the UK. individually. We can give guidance on how to get and give them the support they require.

Aniridia also affects everyone differently so each child has to be considered individually.

If you are a member and have a question or want information, about this or other subjects contact our Enquiries team enquiries@aniridia.org.uk. If we cannot answer we will send your question on to Lyn our expert Education Adviser. She was a primary school/deputy head/early years advisory teacher in London for nearly forty years and is a parent of a son with aniridia.

Resources

Aniridia Passports

We have created pupil passport samples and templates to make school life easier for children with aniridia plus their parents and teachers.

Following the success of these we have produced a version for babies aged 0-2 years.

UK Government information

The Children and Families Act 2014, brought in Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans to replace Statements that document the support they require. Find out more at the Children with special educational needs and disabilities section of the government website.

SEND Information, Advice and Support Services

Special educational needs and Deaf (SEND) Information and Advice Support (IAS) services provide impartial advice and support to parents of children with conditions such as visual impairments about education. Find the details for the SEND IAS service for the local authority where you live. IAS services were previously known as Parent Partnerships.

SENDirect

SENDirect helps you to find local services and activities for your family. such as:

• education, health and social care
• benefits, money, childcare and work
• medical conditions and diagnosis
• connecting with other families

Blind Children UK Education Support

In England, the charity Blind Children UK offer expert, independent advice to help those with visually impairments at nursery, school and college. In Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, they work with other charities to provide information and support.

Independent Parental Special Education Advice

Provides free and independent legally based advice on all aspects of special educational needs in England, It does not cover Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. IPSEA is good for:

• advice on statutory assessment, EHCPs, annual reviews, discrimination and exclusion
• Tribunal Helpline that gives next step advice on appeals and disability discrimination
• model letters for a range of issues
• jargon buster

National Sensory Impairment Partnership.

NatSIP is a partnership of organisations working together to improve outcomes for children and young people with sensory impairments. Use them to get:

• Model Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP) for children aged 2 to 18.
• Advice on education for young people aged 16 to 25.
• News about SEND.

Early years guidance

ANUK 0-16 months Visual Impairment Guidance For Practitioners (pdf)

Based on Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2012 .This guide helps adults, working with children, to understand and support each individual child’s development pathway.

Information for parents: Visual Impairment (pdf)

A booklet is for families with young children (0-5). to help find out more about your child’s situation and to help you help them. It was developed in partnership with RNIB, in response to requests from families, professional agencies and voluntary organisations for better standard information. Families were consulted about the content and the text reflects what parents who have ‘been there before’ say they would have liked to have known in the early days of finding out about their child’s situation.

Information about Visual Impairment

A three part resource to help you find out more about your child’s situation

• What is Visual impairment (VI)
•  How this will affect you and your child
• Where to go for further further support and information

1. General information
2. Early Years
3. School Years

Developmental Journal for Babies and Children with Visual Impairment

This material encourages families to record and celebrate their child’s learning and development through the early years. It’s designed to support early intervention by improving everyone’s understanding of the developmental processes involved and by providing a shared basis for discussion as a child grows and changes.

It includes charts for care givers to record what their child is able to do, as time passes and they learn new things. It is intended for parents, for children and for professionals who work with young children. It is a tool to help families track and understand development of their child and it supports partnership working – in particular, the sharing of information between families and the professionals they meet.

RNIB: Growing, Learning and Playing

• What to look for in an Early Years Setting: Choosing a setting
• Focus on Foundation: Practical ideas for inclusion in EY/Reception
• Mobility and Independence: 0-5 years
• Social Inclusion & Bonding in Early Years: Learning to socialise & make friends
• Infant Massage for Children with a Visual Impairment
• Sensory Development Resource Book: Toys & play guide
• Toys & Play Leaflet: Produced with The British Toy and Hobby Association