The Dudley Vision Impairment Service is a specialist education service offering support to children and young people with a diagnosed vision impairment from early years, through school, and as a traded service post‑16.
Our aim is to ensure that every child with vision loss receives the right level of specialist input to help them access learning, develop independence, and achieve their full potential.
We work closely with families, early years settings, schools, post‑16 providers, health teams, and national organisations to deliver high‑quality, evidence‑based support.
We provide support for:
Children and young people aged 0–25 with a diagnosed vision impairment (VI).
Children from the point of diagnosis, including those supported by ophthalmology services.
Children and young people attending early years settings, mainstream schools, special schools, and further education (FE) or training providers (traded offer).
Input to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
Our support covers children with:
Mild, moderate, severe, or profound VI
Progressive eye conditions
Additional needs alongside VI
Early Years (0–5 years)
Home or setting-based specialist teaching
Support following diagnosis, including helping families understand their child’s condition
Play-based strategies to promote early vision development
Advice on learning environments, lighting and contrast
Partnership working with health professionals/other agencies
Support with transition into school
School-Age Support
Specialist assessment of functional vision and access needs
Advice on curriculum access, classroom layout, lighting, and technology
Advice and support on assistive technology
Training for school staff on teaching strategies and inclusive practice
Direct teaching (e.g. Braille, touch typing) for children with significant vision needs
Support for exam access arrangements
Mobility, independence, and daily living skills input (or referral to appropriate services)
Support with transition to college, training provider or other Post 16 setting
Post‑16 Traded Service
For FE colleges, training providers, and post‑16 settings, we offer a traded service including:
Specialist vision assessments
Staff training and consultancy
Advice on preparation for adulthood: independent skills, employment support, and accessibility
We use the NatSIP eligibility framework for assessing support levels, allocating equitable support across all caseloads.
We collaborate with a wide network of partners including:
Ophthalmology and orthoptics and other health services
