Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI)
As vision impairment is a low-incidence disability you may not come across many children or young people with vision impairment in your school. When you do, help is at hand.
The Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI) is a UK-wide framework that was developed by sector partners after extensive research and consultation. It supports children and young people (CYP) with vision impairment, aged 0-25, to access an appropriate and equitable education.
The CFVI is:
- Inclusive - providing an overview of the key areas of learning that will enable the child or young person with vision impairment in your school to access their education and extra-curricular activities in the most inclusive way, and with as much independence as possible
- Best practice - used by specialist staff from the Virtual School Sensory Support to help plan and teach these key skills to the child or young person
- Understanding - providing a shared language to aid discussions and understanding amongst all involved in the child/young person's education, how and when these skills should be taught by suitably qualified specialists and how they can be reinforced by non-specialists
Areas of learning
The framework outlines 11 key areas of learning that enable the child or young person to access the national curriculum and participate fully in school life.
These are:
- Facilitating an inclusive world
- Sensory development
- Communication
- Literacy
- Habilitation: orientation and mobility
- Habilitation: independent living skills
- Accessing information
- Technology
- Health: social, emotional, mental and physical well-being
- Social, sports and leisure
- Preparing for adulthood
The Qualified Teacher Vision Impairment (QTVI) and Habilitation Officer (and / or Specialist Teaching Assistant) will work with the child or young person one-to-one on all of these areas over the course of their education, revisiting different areas as appropriate. The first area is at the heart of the framework and focuses on inclusion - ensuring that physical and social environments are inclusive and accessible for the child.
It's vital that the child or young person can access and be taught to use the most appropriate form of technology to enable them to take part in lessons and extracurricular activities as fully as possible. The QTVI will also provide guidance on how the child or young person can best be supported by non-specialist staff in the classroom setting and during extracurricular activities.
It's helpful to have an understanding of these key areas of learning, and to be aware of the shared language used, so that everyone involved in the child or young person's education can provide the relevant adjustments and support, thereby making the environment as inclusive and accessible as possible, and providing the opportunity for the child or young person with vision impairment to thrive.
Click here to download your copy of the CFVI and find more information on the RNIB website.