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Base for Blind and Visually Impaired Students
The Base for the Blind and Visually Impaired Students is located in a purpose built mobile classroom in the grounds of Barnwell School. The Base can accommodate up to six pupils in Year 7 to 11 and additional pupils in the sixth form. It is staffed by Specialist Teachers and Teaching Assistants, who work closely with the students, their parents, classroom teachers and other professionals, offering advice and support as necessary. They also enable teacher access to pupil work output through transcription of Braille and print display through the use of laptops.
It is the aim of the Base for each student to be integrated into the mainstream school with full access to a broad and balanced curriculum, to be given equal opportunities and to be able to participate fully in school life along with their peers.
Base Staff aim to support the student in the following ways:
- Support pupils according to their abilities and individual needs from working along side pupils in lessons to working individually with blind pupils on life skills and mobility programmes.
- Help and encourage students to reach their potential - educationally, emotionally and socially.
- Adapt and modify teaching material, preparing large print, Braille and tactile diagrams where appropriate.
Pupils may be withdrawn from certain subjects according to their individual needs and abilities in order to give them training in specialist skills such as Braille, keyboard and life skills. All pupils use a wide variety of equipment including laptops, low vision aids, braillers, and portable magnifiers.
A large number of enlarged texts and Braille books are available for pupils use, as well as a resource library of revision guides, tapes, videos and reference books.