The CFVI has been developed to support children and young people with vision impairment access an appropriate and equitable education. The framework presents outcomes within 11 teaching areas. It provides a vocabulary to be used by children and young people, their families and professionals in the UK who work with them.
The aims of the framework are:
- To help clarify and define the elements of specialist skill development, interventions and best practice support that are considered to be essential for children and young people with vision impairment;
- To assist qualified specialist practitioners in raising the awareness amongst other professionals and parents, of the need for children and young people with vision impairment to be taught skills that enable them to access the curriculum and the wider world with as much independence as possible; and
- To aid discussions and understanding amongst all involved in a child / young person’s education of how and when these skills should be taught by suitably qualified specialists and reinforced by non-specialists.
In Phase one of the project (2020-22) VICTAR led on the development of the CFVI through a Delphi consultation involving a panel of 80 experts, made up of parents and young people, professionals, and course leads. Phase two of the project (2022-2025) consists of four outcomes:
- Specialist Training and Awareness (led by RNIB and VIEW)
- Policy and Influencing (led by VICTAR and Thomas Pocklington Trust)
- Evaluation and Revision (led by VICTAR and RNIB)
- Resource Sharing and Development (led by RNIB and VIEW)