Guidelines to help teachers recognise pupils with vision problems

Vision loss

It is estimated that 80% of learning comes through the visual pathways.
It is, therefore, essential that pupils with vision problems are not overlooked.
All pupils should be tested by the school nurse, but some can still slip through the net.

• A pupil might be absent at the time of the test.
  
  
• A pupil might miss the test because of moving from one school to another.
  
  
• A pupil might develop problems after the test has been carried out. Some problems only show themselves during teenage years.

Do you have any pupils who:

• have problems learning to read?
  
  
• confuse letters of a similar shape, e.g. a, o, c, e?
  
  
• hold their work very close to their eyes or bend over to be close to their work?
  
  
• appear unable to copy accurately from the blackboard?
  
  
• show a disinclination to join in sport?
  
  
• are more clumsy than average?
  
  
• have poor hand-eye co-ordination?
  
  
• show signs of deterioration in the presentation of written work?
  
  
• have a short attention span or appear to daydream?

These signs do not necessarily mean that a pupil has a vision loss. If a significant number of them are shown by a pupil in your class and you think there might be a vision problem, parents should be asked to take their child to the opticians for a vision test.

Further information

For advice on the management of a pupil with a vision loss please contact your Specialist Teacher of the Visually Impaired and see our other webpages in this series:

1. Support and advice for families of children with a Visual Impairment
   
   
2. Guidelines to help teachers recognise pupils with visual problems
   
   
3. Guidelines to help teachers recognise pupils with Visual Perception difficulties
   
   
4. How you can help a Primary pupil with a Visual Impairment
   
   
5. How you can help a Secondary pupil with a Visual Impairment
   
   
6. Mobility tips and ideas for Parents
   
   
7. The school environment and the pupil with a Visual Impairment
   
   
8. How you can help pupils with a Visual Impairment move around safely and independently
   
   
9. How you can help a pupil with Cerebral Palsy
   
   
10. How you can help a pupil with Down Syndrome and a Visual Impairment
    
    
11. How you can help a pupil with Monocular Vision
    
    
12. How you can help a pupil with a squint
    
    
13. How to help children with Colour Blindness (Colour Vision Deficiency)
    
    
14. Talk Time: A listening Service for young people with a Visual Impairment 

“A pupil with a visual impairment is one for whom glasses or an operation do not fully correct his/her vision.”

Further help and advice is available from the Specialist Support Service Visual Impairment Team.

Address:

Phone: (01785) 356830
Minicom: (01785) 356835
Fax: (01785) 356841
Email: sss.service@staffordshire.gov.uk

If you, or someone you know, would like a copy of this in large print, braille, an audio tape or in languages other than English, please contact the Visual Impairment Team on 01785 356830.