Help blind students

10:36am Tuesday 7th November 2006

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A SCHOOL is backing a campaign to get more resources for visually-impaired pupils after waiting more than nine months for full funding for a special unit.

Dartford Grammar School has backed the campaign by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB).

The charity wants the Government to set out a framework making sure books and equipment are made more readily available to visually-impaired children.

The school in West Hill, Dartford, only received full funding for both of its visually-impaired pupils in September this year.

And the school had to subsidise 13-year-old Ben Breen, who joined last year, out of its own pocket.

There are more than 20 blind or partially-sighted children in Dartford who attend mainstream schools.

Headteacher Tony Smith says he is disappointed the money was not readily available.

He said: "I can't give you the exact figure of how much we needed from Kent County Council (KCC) but I can say it was a large sum of money.

"We only got the significant part of it in September and before this we were subsidising it with our own funding.

"But we still feel the standard of education is good and I think they have got on very well at the school."

The RNIB said only 12 per cent of maths and eight per cent of science GCSE textbooks in England are available in braille or large print.

Mr Smith believes the RNIB campaign will highlight the cost involved in educating visually-impaired students.

He said: "It takes staff a long time to prepare material for lessons and although we have a visually-impaired unit with a braille machine, we would like to get the material to our students straight away."

Ben's mum Sharon Breen said: "The school has been fantastic but I think the Government could do more and make funding available straight away for students."

The 44-year-old Culverstone resident added: "It is so time consuming for teachers to have to adapt textbooks into braille or larger print and I think it is frustrating for Ben.

"I want Ben not only to be able to get the latest Harry Potter but also the latest atlas or dictionary he needs straight away."

Dartford MP Dr Howard Stoate also backs the campaign.

He said: "I am behind this campaign and if there is a shortage of facilities then it really should be looked into.

"I believe everybody should get the same opportunities and this is no exception."

A KCC spokesman said: "KCC always works very closely with schools when they admit a visually-impaired student.

"Specialist teachers from KCC visited Dartford Grammar School regularly to ensure the correct resources were in place for this student and a very smooth transition was ensured from his primary school to secondary school.

"This particular student is now performing very well at school and there is ongoing support from specialist teachers to ensure this continues."