Mandatory Qualification for Teachers of Children and Young People with Vision Impairments

Approved by the Department of Education and designed to fit around busy working lives, the PGDip / MA Mandatory Qualifications for Teachers of Children and Young People with Vision impairments are blended learning programmes that enable qualified teachers (QTS or QTLS) to gain specialist skills and knowledge that make a difference to children and young people in the classroom. On the programme, you will be able to work through online learning materials at your own pace and will be supported by both online tutorials and live lectures. There are also two face to face study weekends which you must attend if you wish to gain the mandatory qualification.

Please note: alternative courses (The PGDip/MA Education of Children and Young People with Vision Impairments programme) is also open to teachers (as well as other professionals with appropriate qualifications) working with children and young people with vision impairments who do not wish, or are not eligible, to obtain qualified status to teach children and young people with vision impairment.

Why study this course?

• Approximately 100 specialist teachers of children with vision impairments are trained each year, making the University of Birmingham the largest teacher training provider in the area of vision impairment in the United Kingdom.
• The course is strongly rooted in practice and makes strong links with mainstream settings, special schools and settings, and sensory support services to help keep provision up to date and relevant to practice.
• The programme with its three sensory pathways, benefits from association with members of the Vision Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR), who are leading researchers in vision impairment education.