Area 1: Developing and informing practice: schools, services, clinicians.

• NATSIP: Best Practice Guidance for Sensory Impairment in Special Schools (External). Developed in 2016 by teachers from Kent's special schools for profound, severe and complex needs in conjunction with Kent's Sensory Service. It includes: a checklist for self-evaluation of practice - supports classroom observations, mentoring and the identification of training needs.
• NATSIP: Effective support for pupils with VI in secondary schools (External). Guidance is for all members of staff who work with pupils with VI focus on: effective support that engages, include and encourage independent learning.
• NATSIP: A Place to Start - Top 10 tips (External). Tips to support colleagues who are new to working with a pupil with sensory impairment providing a quick introductory guide to useful resources. Updated 2021.
• NATSIP: A Place to Start -   working with a child or young person with sensory impairment (External). A training pack to improve the confidence and basic skills of mainstream or special school staff who are working with children and young people with a sensory impairment.
• NATSIP:  Teaching Assistants (TA) Guidance - Raising the achievement/effective working with TAs in schools (External). The 2016 guide is intended to support schools to ensure there is effective support from teaching assistants. It includes job descriptions.
• NATSIP: Quality Standards for Sensory Services in England (External). The standards (2016) focus on areas in which inspectors relating to the quality of arrangements for supporting children and young people with SEND.
• NATSIP: Quality Improvement Support Pack (External). This document is intended to support services in reviewing and improving the quality of their provision for children with sensory impairments by providing a framework for self-evaluation.
• NATSIP: Guidance for eye health professionals writing reports for non-specialist audiences (External). This 2016 guidance supports eye health professionals to write informative reports for others that provide a clear and thorough understanding of the needs of a child or young person with vision impairment.
• RNIB: Focus on Foundation (External). Practical ideas for the successful inclusion of children with sight loss in early years settings including reception classes. It describes how a child with a vision impairment can take a full part in play and learning alongside children who are fully sighted. 
• RNIB: How Habilitation Specialists can Help you Develop Children (External). Article by Fiona Broadley, who explains the role of the habilitation specialist in supporting children's independence. Published 2015.
• Welsh Government - Support for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (External). This report discusses various approaches and interventions designed to meet the holistic needs of children with vision impairment, including access to the curriculum and opportunities for social inclusion. 

Downloadable Resources 

See Area 1: Facilitating an Inclusive World homepage to discover downloadable resources shared by the sector