FOI Request - Visually Impaired Children and Young People

Request 101002953766

I am requesting the following information under the Freedom of Information Act in relation to the education of children and young people who are visually impaired:

1)      a. Who provides Qualified Teacher of Children & Young People with a Vision Impairment (QTVI) services in the Local Authority? Please choose an option/options from the below list.

-        Local Authority employed QTVI(s)
-        An external organisation is commissioned to deliver QTVI services (please give name of external organisation)
-        QTVI services are shared with another Local Authority (please state which LA)
-        Other (please specify)
-        No QTVI services are delivered in the Local Authority

b. If you answered “No QTVI services are delivered in the Local Authority” in question 1a, please explain the current situation and how children access QTVI provision and support.

2)      a. Please give the number of children and young people with vision impairment on the Visual Impairment service active caseload
b.      Of the number you listed in 2a, please tell us how many children you support who attend
-        Mainstream school
-        Specialist school
c.      Of the number you listed in 2a, please tell us how many children/young people you support in the below age groups
-        0-3 years
-        P1 - P3
-        P4 - P7
-        S1 - S3
-        S4 - S6

3)      Excluding the children and young people with vision impairment counted in question 2, please give the number(s) of children and young people with vision impairment known to the VI service but not receiving direct support from the Local Authority service using the below categories.
-        Out of local authority area placements
-        Advice on request
-        Home educated
-        Grant aided school
-        Specialist school
-        Other (please specify)

    4) a. What is the total number of children and young people who use Braille as their sole or main literary medium?
b. What is the total number of children who are dual learners (using Braille and another format)?

5) What criteria does the Visual Impairment service use for allocating levels of support?

6) Please give the full time equivalent (FTE) number of teachers employed directly by the VI service who are:

- Qualified Teachers of children and young people with a Visual Impairment (QTVIs) with mandatory qualification (MQ)
- Teachers who are currently studying for MQ through the academic route
- TVIs who are not currently studying for MQ
- QTVI vacancies currently vacant

7) Please give the FTE staff number of Teaching Assistants (TAs) employed directly by the VI service who are providing support to pupils with a vision impairment. If no TAs are directly employed please write "0".

8) Please give details of the FTE of any other staff employed by the VI service e.g. Transcription Staff

9) a. How are Habilitation support services delivered in the Local Authority? Please choose an option from the list below.
- Local Authority employed Habilitation Specialist
- An external organisation is commissioned to deliver Habilitation services (please give name of external organisation)
- Services are spot purchased
- Other (please specify)
- No Habilitation Services are delivered in the Local Authority

b. If you answered the “No Habilitation services are delivered in the Local Authority” in question 9a, please explain the current situation and how children access Habilitation provision and support.

c. How many pupils are currently receiving mobility/Habilitation training?

d. How many pupils are waiting to be assessed for mobility/Habilitation training?

e. How many hours per week does a Habilitation Specialist provide support to children in the Local Authority?

10) What specialist skills framework do you use to support Children and Young People with a Visual Impairment? Please list all that apply. Examples below.
- Expanded Core Curriculum – (EEC) – USA
- NatSIP Learner Outcomes Framework
- Developmental Journal (DJVI)
- Steps to Independence
- The Oregon Project
- Quality Standards for Habilitation
- Guide dogs Habilitation Programme
- Bespoke programme designed in house
- Other (please specify)

Response 28-01-22

Please see response document here.