Infocus College

Special Education Needs

WESC Foundation has a non-maintained special school and college providing educational placements for young people who are visually impaired and may have additional disabilities. Multi-professional assessments are offered to help families and local authorities decide whether WESC Foundation would be an appropriate potential placement. The assessment team includes therapists, habilitation specialists, specialist teaching staff, healthcare staff and members of the WESC Foundation VI Advisory Team. Requests for assessments can be made by families or local authorities but it is the local authority who will ultimately determine whether a placement at WESC is supported by a young person’s Education and Healthcare Plan. Students follow the WESC Foundation curriculum which is delivered by specialist teachers with support enablers. The curriculum is flexible in order to support individual students in achieving the outcomes of their EHCP. Where necessary this may involve; individual training in braille, mobility, and independent living skills. A range of technologies are also often used including; braille notetakers, screen magnification devices and readers and voice activated software etc. Students are supported in their learning by a multi-disciplinary team of therapists and staff providing specialist physical and sensory input as well as pastoral support.