Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool
Special needs catered for
The Royal School for the Blind provides places for up to 66 pupils ranging in age from 2-19 years and beyond. All students have a Visual Impairment and Multiple Disabilities including difficulties ranging from moderate to profound. The children are taught in small groups with a high staff ratio. All pupils have access to the (EYFS) National Curriculum and a discrete 16-19 curriculum with an increased emphasis upon Independent Skills and Vocational Skills. Tasks are broken down into small steps and each child is encouraged to progress at their own pace through Individual Educational Programmes and also group sessions. The school is flexible in its approach in order to meet the individual needs of every child/ young person. We offer full time places (day and residential) as well as part time places as required. A total communication approach is used which includes speech, on-body signing, body cues and objects of reference, as appropriate to each child. Mobility and self-help skills are an essential part of the curriculum and each child is encouraged to become as independent as possible. Programmes are delivered by our onsite Mobility Officer both in school and in the local community. Performance-Level assessment (P-Levels) is undertaken using PIVATS and MAPP to identify the vertical and horizontal attainment. Achievement is recognised through detailed Records of Achievement and through Nationally recognised accreditation showing clearly how our children and young people have progressed from the time they joined us. These included ASDAN Transition Challenge, Towards Independence and AQA Units of Accreditation.
Specialist facilities
Many alterations have taken place in recent years to adapt the school to meet the needs of our pupils. The School offers excellent facilities which we feel are the best in the country. All parts of the school are accessible to all pupils, and much thought has been given to lighting and decor to enhance the environment for visually impaired pupils as well as visually contrasting mobility routes linked to tactile markers and objects of reference outside key areas. Onsite agencies include Physiotherapy Department delivering individual Physiotherapy, Hydrotherapy and Rebound Therapy programmes. We have a Speech Therapy Department, Music Therapy Room and Nursing Care. Superb purpose built accommodation comprising teaching areas with en-suite facilities, Gymnasium, Rebound Therapy, a newly refurbished Food Technology Room (with talking Microwaves, Scales and switch activated appliances), Hydrotherapy Pool, state of the art Sensory Room, outdoor play areas and a Science Room. Every class has a touchscreen computer and an iPad. We are fortunate to be situated in an area which can provide access to a wide variety of facilities both in the immediate vicinity and within easy travelling distance. Classes and Residential units take regular advantage of the three school minibuses to take them further afield. Children and young people at the school can stay on the residential units four nights a week. We also offer individual respite nights from 1-2 or 3 nights.
Support services provided
The Royal School for the Blind, believes it is very important to promote partnership with parents, who are welcome to visit school at any time. Information is exchanged between school and home by link books, as well as telephone and visits. During the year, there are coffee mornings, parent workshops, and other school events for parents to participate in. We also provide a twice weekly ‘After School Club’ and arrange holiday clubs.
Home school links
Home/School link books and regular meetings between class staff and residential key workers. Social events are organised throughout the year and parents are invited to take part in Coffee mornings, Sports Day, Red Nose Day/Sports Relief/Children In Need events and our MacMillan Coffee Morning. Some parents volunteer during the day to help with swimming, trips out etc. College links – visits from representative college prior to transfer and some classes have visited the future college placement with the pupils prior to and after the transfer.
General environment
The School stands in a leafy suburb in Wavertree, Liverpool in an attractive residential area alongside a large local parkland. It has good local amenities and is central and accessible to other parts of Liverpool by public transport. It is a short drive from the M62 and a short distance to a local train station and Liverpool Airport only being a 15 minute drive away.
Aims and philosophy
A Whole School ‘Vision’ for the Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool The Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool is a centre of excellence supporting pupils with a visual impairment and multiple disabilities and complex needs. We provide places for up to 66 children and young people of mixed gender and ages, ranging from 2 – 19 years of age. Our ‘core values, purpose’ and ‘envisioned future’ is a collaboration and partnership between staff, parents, multi agencies, the children’s council, governors and trustees. Core Values To ensure care, dignity and respect for all of our children and young people is upheld at all times. To continuously safeguard the welfare of our children and young people in our care. To provide a home from home in our residential settings. To improve and adapt our environment as the needs of our children and young people require at an outstanding level. To maintain our reputation as a Centre of Excellence for children and young people with MDVI through collaboration with parents and carers, multi agencies, LEAs and professionals to fully meet every child’s specific needs. To ensure that the safety and happiness of each child is of the greatest importance. To provide a safe, happy, nurturing, stimulating and challenging environment to prepare our children and young people for their transition into growing independence and adult life. To embrace change and constantly seek to improve our provision in order to maintain our quality of care and education. Core Purpose To meet the educational, physical, social, and spiritual needs of children and young people locally/ regionally/nationally who live with multiple disabilities and visual impairment. To provide a safe, child-centred and fun, learning environment appropriate to each individual. To ensure good communication, a seamless package of care and a 24 hour curriculum with children and young people, the ‘Team Around the Child’ in school and the residential homes, parents and carers and all partner agencies. To provide a multi-agency service for the benefit of our children and young people. To ensure an excellent staff to child ratio with all relevant multi-sensory resources. To identify every child’s needs and encourage all to reach their full potential and develop independence skills for life. To encourage children to further explore and understand their world and enable them to communicate their responses. To provide outstanding residential care, respite care, after school and holiday care developing children’s independence and social development. To welcome parents and professionals into school to liaise with our ‘Team around the Child’ including teachers, residential staff, teaching- assistants, physiotherapists, speech therapist, mobility trainers, music therapist, nurses and other professionals. Envisioned Future To provide mobility and other specialist support to external service users regionally and nationally. To extend the school and residential provision to support the changing dynamics and specific needs of children and young people and LEA requirements. To expand collaborative training, external training access and in-house training teams to ensure continued staff development and to continually meet the needs of children and young people and widening provision development. To continue to develop interaction, communication, teamwork, close collaboration with parents, LEAs and external professionals to better serve our children and young people. To continually develop our building and physical resources to ensure an attractive environment that meets the changing needs of children and young people. To provide a visually stimulating environment including displays, mobility routes and objects of reference around school. To share our vision and expertise with a wider audience through marketing our website, prospectus, local offer, special events to ensure sustainability and outstanding service provision. To continually strengthen community links, business and vocational links for the benefit of all. To always maintain high standards, collaborations and specialisms through self-review and close work between children, staff, multi-agencies, professionals, LEAs , governors, trustees for the benefit of children and young people. To be aware of any areas of need arising at a local and regional level for children with MDVI and to respond appropriately.
Staff qualification and selection
Most of the teaching staff at the Royal School for the Blind will have the additional qualification in teaching children with visual impairments:- Teaching degree and B. Phil V.I. Skip Training (Challenging Behaviour) Autism Awareness
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