RNIB supporting blind and partially sighted people

Effective practice guide

Special schools and colleges in the UK

About this guide
This guide gives details of schools and colleges which are
specifically for blind and partially sighted children and young
people, or have facilities for blind and partially sighted children and
young people. Many blind and partially sighted children are
educated in mainstream schools, or in special schools that do not
specialise in vision impairment. We strongly advise contacting the
Local Authority's Vision Impairment Teaching Service for
information and advice about local provision.

Contents
1. Schools and colleges specifically for blind and partially sighted
learners
2. Schools and colleges with facilities for blind and partially sighted
learners
3. RNIB Schools and college

1. Schools and colleges specifically for blind

and partially sighted learners
London and South East

Joseph Clarke School

Vincent Road, Highams Park, Chingford, E4 9PP

Telephone: 020 8523 4833

Email: school@josephclarke.waltham.sch.uk
Web: www.whitefield.org.uk/jc

Offers education and support for pupils with visual impairment and
additional or complex needs and also a small number of places for
pupils with communication difficulties, including autism, who are
not visually impaired. On 1st April 2014, the school became part of

Registered charity number 226227

the Whitefield Academy Trust with Whitefields in an academy
arrangement (see below)

Linden Lodge School

61 Princes Way, Wimbledon Park, London SW19 6JB

Telephone: 020 8788 0107

Email: info@lindenlodge.wandsworth.sch.uk
Website: www.lindenlodge.wandsworth.sch.uk

Provides a high quality educational experience for visually

impaired pupils, including those who are visually impairmed with
complex needs. Also supports pupils with profound and multiple
learning difficulties.

RNIB Sunshine House School and Residence

33 Dene Road, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2DD

Telephone: 01923 82 25 38
Email: sunshinehouse@rnib.org.uk
Website: www.rnib.org.uk/sunshinehouse

Takes children from the ages of 2 to 14 with vision impairments,

significant learning difficulties and disabilities and other complex
needs. Has a team of in-house therapists and offers family
services including after-school and holiday groups, family events,
sibling support groups, networking and advice for parents. Also
works in alliance with The Eden Academy as part of a family of
local special schools working together to share expertise and to
offer children and families access to a greater range of activities
and high quality resources. The residence welcomes children for
short breaks and respite care, and children who don’t attend the
school are also welcome to stay. Offers a range of flexible options
for daycare, as well as overnight and short stays.

Whitefield Schools (previously called Whitefield

Schools and Centre)

MacDonald Road, Walthamstow, London E17 4AZ

Telephone: 020 8531 3426
e-mail: enquiries@whitefield.waltham.sch.uk
Website: www.whitefield.org.uk

On 1st April 2014, the school became part of the Whitefield

Academy Trust. There are three sub-schools within Whitefield
Schools, each providing outstanding teaching and learning for a
specific group of pupils:

 Margaret Brearley School

For pupils aged 3-19 years old with complex needs including
learning difficulties, physical impairment and sensory impairment.

 Peter Turner Primary School

For pupils aged 3-11 years old with autism or speech and
communication difficulties.

 Niels Chapman Secondary School

For pupils aged 11-19 years old with communication or interaction
difficulties, or have hearing loss.

South East

Royal London Society for Blind People

Dorton Nursery, Wildernesse Avenue, Seal, Nr. Sevenoaks
Kent, TN15 0EB

Tel: 020 7808 6170

Email connections@rlsb.org.uk.
Website: http://www.rlsb.org.uk/our-services/early-years/nursery

Supports blind and partially sighted children aged between 0-5

who may also have additional needs. Dorton Nursery is a term-
time nursery offering whole day or half day placements. Some
children attend a mainstream or other specialist nursery for part of
the week and come to Dorton as a shared placement.
South West

WESC Foundation
Topsham Road, Countess Wear, Exeter, Devon , EX2 6HA

Telephone: 01392 45 42 00
Fax: 01392 42 80 48
Website: www.wescfoundation.ac.uk

School and college offers a range of placements to suit individual

need
 full-time day or residential placements for 38 weeks of the
academic year
 all-year-round residential placements (52 week provision)
 part-time day or residential placements
 short respite breaks in our residential houses for young
people and adults.

Midlands

New College Worcester

Whittington Road, Worcester, WR5 2JX

Telephone: 01905 763 933

Email: lphillips@ncw.co.uk
Website: www.ncw.co.uk

New College Worcester is a national residential school and college

for young people aged 11 to 19 who are blind or partially sighted.
Every student at NCW has a tailored programme, carefully planned
and delivered to meet their individual needs in three key areas;
academic achievement, independent living skills and involvement
in extracurricular activities at the College and in the community.
NCW accepts students with a wide range of visual impairments
and a wide range of academic ability and some students have
additional needs such as a hearing impairment, Asperger's
Syndrome or have limited mobility. Some 6th formers follow
vocational programmes at a local college supported by NCW staff.
Students also have Independent Living Skills (ILS), Information
and Communication Technology (ICT), Mobility and Braille
lessons. Participation in sports is encouraged both in the College
and the community.

Priestley Smith Specialist School

Perry Beeches Campus, Beeches Road, Great Barr, Birmingham,
B42 2PY

Telephone: 0121 325 3900

Email: enquiry@priestley.bham.sch.uk
Website: http://www.priestleysmith.co.uk/

An all age specialist centre for pupils with severe vision

impairment; caters for children between the ages of 2 and 19
years, delivering nursery education, Foundation Stage and Key
Stages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Located on the site of Perry Beeches
mainstream schools which includes Perry Beeches Nursery, Infant,
Junior and Secondary schools. Students attend the school from all
areas of Birmingham and also from surrounding Local Authorities,
including Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning

Wheelwright Lane, Ash Green, Coventry, CV7 9RA

Telephone: 024 7636 9500

Email: pearscentre@rnib.org.uk
Website: www.rnib.org.uk/pearscentre

RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning offers individually-

tailored education, care and therapies to children and young
people with multiple disabilities and complex health needs who are
blind or partially sighted, from pre-school up to the age of 19.
Range of services includes:
 Education in our special school and nursery
 Up to 52-week residential care
 Nursing care for children with additional medical needs
 Therapies and healthcare
  Outreach services
 Weekly parent and early years sensory sessions

North West

St Vincent's School
A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs
Yew Tree Lane, West Derby, Liverpool L12 9HN

Telephone: 0151 228 9968

Email: office@stvin.com
Website: www.stvin.com

St Vincent’s School is a non-maintained outcomes focused special

school offering both day and residential provision for pupils from 4-
19 years of age with sensory impairment and other needs, on a
weekly term time basis.

Royal School for the Blind

Church Road North, Wavertree, Liverpool, L15 6TQ

Telephone: 0151 733 1012

Email: info@rsblind.co.uk
Web: www.rsblind.org

The Royal School for the Blind provides places for up to 66 pupils
ranging in age from 2-19 years. All students have a visual
impairment and learning difficulties ranging from moderate to
profound. Many students have additional sensory, physical or
behavioural disabilities. The pupils come from all over the country,
and about 40% are residential from Monday to Friday.

Scotland

Royal Blind School

43-45 Canaan Lane, Edinburgh, EH10 4SG
Telephone: 0131 446 3120
Email: office@royalblindschool.org.uk
Web: www.royalblind.org/education

The Royal Blind School in Edinburgh provides education, care and

support to pupils with visual impairment, including those who have
additional support needs and complex multiple disabilities.
Founded in 1835, they have a wealth of experience in teaching
visually impaired children and young people. The Royal Blind
School offers full and part time day and weekly residential places.

Northern Ireland

Jordanstown Schools
85 Jordanstown Road, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, BT37 OQE

Telephone: 028 9086 3541

Email: Info@jordanstownschools.co.uk
Web: www.jordanstownschool.org

Offers a specialist education to children who are deaf or have

visual impairments. Although it has been financed and is owned by
our board of trustees, it is maintained by the Education Authority
North East region, so every child has access to the statutory
curriculum from foundation level upwards. All staff in the school are
trained and experienced in working with pupils who have a sensory
impairment.

Further/Higher Education

Condover College Ltd

Longbow House, Harlefcott lane, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1
3GZ

Telephone: 01743 872250

Email: condover@btconnect.com
Web: www.condovercollege.co.uk

Condover College provides education, support and residential care

for individuals who are visually impaired with profound and
additional complex needs. Education is provided for learners
between the ages of 18 and 25 years. Specialist residential
accommodation with a strong leisure opportunities programme can
be provided post-education for individuals up to the age of 65
years.

Dorton College of Further Education

Royal London Society for the Blind
Dorton House, Wildernesse Avenue, Seal, Nr. Sevenoaks, Kent,
TN15 0EB

Telephone: 020 7808 6170

Email: connections@rlsb.org.uk
Web: www.rlsb.org.uk/our-services/young-people-services-sub-
section/dorton-college

Offers blind or partially sighted young people aged 16-25 looking

for a college programme that can be tailored for their needs,
teaming up with mainstream colleges to bring a wide selection of
courses, qualifications and opportunities.

Henshaws Specialist College

Bogs Lane, Starbeck, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 4ED

Telephone: 01423 88 64 51
Email: admissions@heshaws.org.uk
Web: www.henshaws.org.uk/what-we-offer/college

Flexible learning programmes support residential and day students

aged 16 – 25 years with a wide range of disabilities and additional
support needs. Their specialist staff and facilities help students to
develop the skills and independence they need to achieve the
future they want.
Queen Alexandra College
49 Court Oak Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 9TG

Telephone: 0121 428 5050

Email: info@qac.ac.uk
Website: http://www.qac.ac.uk

Queen Alexandra College (QAC) is a leading specialist college for

people with disabilities. QAC offer courses for young people aged
16-25 years as well as employment focussed and supported living
programmes. In addition to supporting people who have a visual
impairment, QAC offer support and guidance for students on the
autistic spectrum, those with moderate to severe learning
difficulties, students with physical disabilities and those with other
needs. Day and residential provision.

Royal National College for the Blind

Venns Lane, Hereford HR1 1DT

Telephone: 01432 265725

Email: info@rncb.ac.uk
Website: www.rncb.ac.uk

Offers a range of courses at various levels to both students (16 to

25 year olds) and adult trainees (18 to 65 year olds). Provides a
full range of academic and vocational qualifications combined with
specialist training designed to prepare people for progression to
Further Education, Higher Education and employment.

RNIB College Loughborough

Radmoor Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3BS

Telephone: 01509 61 10 77
Fax: 01509 23 20 13
Email: enquiries@rnibcollege.ac.uk
Website: http://www.rnibcollege.ac.uk/
RNIB College Loughborough is a specialist residential college for
people with sight loss and a wide range of other disabilities aged
16 plus, from all over the UK.. Offers further education and daytime
activities programmes with opportunities to develop practical skills
and work experience within different social enterprises, such as a
Café, eBay business, Conference Centre, Arts Centre, Shop and
Office. The College can also support students to access
mainstream courses at neighbouring Loughborough College. Also
offers a one-year residential programme to help young adults to
develop independent living skills, as well as short courses for
adults and training for organisations.

March 2016