Scottish Borders : Access to the Curriculum for All
HAWICK & PEEBLES
What is this?
Based within two Borders High School clusters (Hawick and Peebles), this project looked at developing a model for making a full curriculum accessible to pupils with significant visual impairments and pupils who are "text impaired". It catered for the needs of these pupils by taking advantage of the latest developments in computer and audio technology.
There were 4 pupils with significant impairments in feeder primary schools who transferred in August 2004 or 2005 to the High Schools. There were also younger pupils with similar levels of visual impairment in other Borders primary schools, who would in due course transfer to a mainstream secondary school. In each case, the parents of the pupils involved were consulted and were supportive of the project aims.
The project formed part of a policy being adopted by Scottish Borders Council to integrate pupils with visual impairments, no matter what the severity of their impairment into mainstream education. This policy stems from the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils' Educational records) (Scotland) Act 2002, which requires education authorities to write and implement an accessibility strategy.
FLaT involvement?
FLaT support was provided to help explore the development possibilities for delivering a full curriculum to all visually impaired students within main stream education.
Links with National Priorities?
1. Achievement and Attainment
3. Inclusion and Equality
4. Values and Citizenship
5. Learning for Life
Project aims?
The project aims to develop a model for the support of visually impaired pupils that:
- Recognises and caters for their needs as individuals;
- Takes advantage of recent developments in computer, school network and digital audio technology; and
- Can become a sustainable model that the authority will adopt for all new VI pupils.
Project outcomes?
- Developed, within schools, an ethos of acceptance, understanding, and support for pupils with visual impairment;
- Provided a wide range of ICT approaches to allow pupils access to the curriculum, and to evaluate these solutions with the pupils so that they can make their own choices based on their own experience of these technologies;
- Transferred a variety of curriculum based materials into suitable formats for use with visually impaired students;
- Evaluated the value of these developments to other "text impaired" pupils – especially those with dyslexic style literacy difficulties; and
- Developed a sustainable model for the future.
Timescale?
The project started in September 2003 and ran until December 2005.
Level of Support?
FLaT support was a grant of £42,300 plus evaluation costs.
Who are the evaluation team?
The University of Edinburgh, Scottish Sensory Centre led by Dr Ernst Thoutenhoofd.
Contact person:
Philip Whittaker, ICT Support Teacher for Additional Needs, Melrose Resource Centre, Huntly Road, MELROSE, Scottish Borders, TD6 9SB. Tel No. 01896 823517. Email: pwhittaker@scotborders.gov.uk