Dear Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP and Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP

Enabling vision impaired young people into work

The need for targeted investment

We welcome the government’s joined up approach in the form of the Get Britain Working White Paper and the commitment to invest £240m that will include skills support for disabled people. In particular we note that the government is interested in ‘testing new early interventions targeted at the specific barriers they are facing to work.’

We strongly believe that the government needs to consider a more ‘invest to save’ approach. If children and young people receive timely support that meets their needs, at the right kind of school then they are much more likely to be prepared and able to access the workplace when they are older.

We call for the government to invest some of the Get Britain Working funding in providers like New College Worcester who are already supporting those who are at an increasing risk of becoming economically inactive before their careers have even begun. There is also a need for a wider understanding of the pressures of funding on the sector, and we ask the government to strongly consider either extending the statutory override that is due to end in 2026 or remove the debt that is threatening local authorities (LA) once the override ends. The current lack of clarity and a looming threat of a section 114 notice facing LAs, has undoubtedly hindered any opportunity for local authorities and local partners to develop any ‘invest to save’ initiatives in terms of SEND.

Concerningly, nationally the employment rate of people with difficulty seeing appears to be continuing on an overall downward trend (RNIB). Only one in four blind and partially sighted people of working age are in employment whereas the overall UK employment rate is 75% (ONS). We believe the government needs to take action to reverse this downwards trend.

Inclusion for VI students – the role of special schools
Inclusion for children and young people, who are blind or VI, means that they receive the excellent education and independent living skills they need to secure long-term work and contribute to the economy. We are concerned that the government drive towards mainstream schools will negatively impact on children and young people who are blind or vision impaired (VI). We believe that the strongest advocates for the impact that special schools have on children and young people with VI are the students themselves. We have evidence that shows the positive impact that access to the right place at the right time has on the lives of VI students.

You can hear directly from Len and Natalie about why they feel a special school is better for them than a mainstream school.

We power students like Zoe, Matthew and Tobias through their education, into universities and the workplace. We provide bona fide work experience by collaborating with employers to secure apprenticeships for our students too.

If the government wishes to achieve its ambitious 80 per cent employment rate, it needs to act now to enable VI students of today to play a full and active role in the workplace of the future.

Yours sincerely

Rachel Perks, Principal, New College Worcester

Mrs Pat Dyson, Chair of Governors, New College Worcester

NASS – National Association of Special Schools

Visionary – Membership organisation for local sight loss charities

Moorvision – Supporting families of children and young people with vision impairments in Devon and Cornwall

Mr. Kevin Glanville, Concerned citizen 

Mrs. Jacqui Parr

Mr. Anthony Gardiner, Concerned citizen

Mr. Tim Pennick, NCW Alumni

Mrs. Michelle Bickerton, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Janet Clements, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Chadia Filali-Moutei, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mr. Marlon Ordonez, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Jean Wilson, Concerned Grandparent

Laura Harris, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Cheryl Winter, Concerned citizen

Mr. D Tutin

Mrs. Janet Wright, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Ms. Christine Clements, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. Andy Law, NCW Alumni

Mr. Fabian Guallichico, Concerned citizen

Miss Charlotte Jones, Young Person with Special Educational Need

Mr. Anthony Clements, NCW Alumni

Mrs. Susan Platt, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Lupe Ordoñez, Concerned citizen

Miss Keirston James, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mr. Brayan Ordonez, Concerned citizen

Ms. Fazida Hamid, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. John White, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Caroline Giles, Young Person with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Sara Tutin, Grandparent of VI child

Miss Hazel Wilson, Relative of SEND child

Mr. Lee Matthews, Education professional

Mr. STEPHEN CLEMENTS, Concerned citizen

Mr. Tristrum SNELL, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Ms. Emma Price, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Sarah Mason, Education professional

Mr. Philip Tutin, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. Roger Wilson-Hinds, Education professional

Ms. Mandy Mcmath

Mrs. Nicola Cox, Concerned citizen

Harvey White, NCW Alumni

Mr. Jon Graves, Concerned citizen

Mr. Ken Knowles, NCW Alumni

Mr. Geraint Roberts, Concerned citizen

Mr. Paul Hoffman, Concerned citizen

Mr. Robert Roberts, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need 

Ellie C, Young Person with Special Educational Need

Mr. Geof Armstrong, Grandparent

Mrs. Rachel James, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Kay Harris, Concerned citizen

Miss Sarah Wilson, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. Craig Johnson, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Crystal Johnson, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Jane Copsey, NCW Alumni

Connah Anders, NCW Alumni

Miss Charlotte Cobley, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Zoe Snoxell, Concerned citizen

Miss Courtney Wedley, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Charlotte Davis, I’m an auntie to a vision and hearing impaired child

Mr. Joshua Manifold, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Donna Manifold, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Sarah Bluff, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. Duncan Kings, Supporter

Mrs. Eleanor Wadge, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Alison Holmes, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mr. Chris Cook, NCW Alumni

Mrs. Caroline Donnelly, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mr. Martin Clements, NCW Alumni

Mrs. Fehmida Azmi, Commissioning Officer

Mrs. Kristy Hooper, Mum to Lily-Grace year 11

Ms. Hazel Sherrington, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Debbie Smith, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Karen Humphrey, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Miss Charlene Smith, Education professional

Mrs. Melissa Gowen, Academic

Mr. Jonathan Wood, Family member

Mrs. Sarah Wood, Family member

Mrs. Jane Price, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Deanna White, Concerned citizen

Mr. Andro Andrejevic, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Francesca Blake, Friends

Ms. Karen Sherwood

Miss Diane Hollinshead, Concerned citizen

Miss Phoebe Mabey, Young Person with Special Educational Need

Ms. Paula Annels, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Claire Croft, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. Chris Clark, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. Jamie S-A, Young Person with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Beatriz Molina, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Katie Thorburn, Concerned citizen

Ms. Rebecca Williamson, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Christine Davies

Mrs. Esther Cashman, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Ms. Gem Durham, Concerned citizen

Mr. Kai Williamson, Young Person with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Louise Wood, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Ms. Joanne Robinson, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Natalie Hughes

Miss Denise Cousins, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Lucy Kibria, Was a parent

Mrs. Hayley Bayfield, Education professional

Mrs. Karen Williams, Concerned citizen

Mr. Edward George, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Kristy Hooper, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. Kim Durham, Academic

Mrs. Julie Bartram, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Julie Davies, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Louise Ablitt, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Cheryl Sansom, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Kimberley McSwiggan, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Jackie Whitford, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Ms. Maggie Ryan, Concerned citizen

Mr. Will Norman, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Cathryn Corbett-Butler, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Ms. Gill Hiscock, Education professional

Mrs. Louise Rosoman, Professional working with Young People with a Vision Impairment

Mrs. Emma Williams, Fundraising Manager

Mr. Terry Robinson, NCW Alumni

Miss Megan White, EHCO officer

Mr. Gareth Williams, NCW Alumni

Mrs. Helen Gander

Mrs. Julie Bleasdale, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Cathryn Birkett, Education professional

Mrs. Lynda Paton, Concerned citizen

Mr. Phillip Simpson, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. ROBERT PERKINS, Friend of people with sight problems

Mrs. Mangalika Gunaratne, Learning Support Assistant

Miss Debbie Gilbert, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Joanna Reeve, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Victoria Willis

Miss Michelle Smith

K Lawrence

Miss Charlotte Bateman, Concerned citizen

Mr. Kieren Caldwell, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Anna Humphries, Learning Support Assistant

Mrs. Rachael Kings, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Sarah Crawley, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Jo Morris, Concerned citizen

Mr. Simon Neill, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Hannah Robb, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. Dean Robb, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Ms. Sian Sweeney, Governor of NCW

Ms. Cathy Wright, Retired teacher of the visually impaired (QTVI)

Mr. Craig Swainland, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Ms. Alice Barnsdale, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Claire Mogg, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Caroline James, Education professional

Mrs. Anne-Marie Bird, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Miss Karen McNeil, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Jane Wood, Grandparent

Miss Emma Knight, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Ms. Christina Matawa, qualified teacher for children with vision impairments

Mr. Neil Morgan, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Paula Wagstaff, Qualified Teacher for the Vision Impaired 

Miss Sally Fitzgerald

Mrs. Janet Ashworth, Concerned citizen

Mrs. Anna O’Dell, Concerned citizen

Miss Caitlin Evans, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Jane Lodge, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Carole Thompson, Concerned citizen

Mr. Ian Hollinshead, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Kate Clark, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Suzanne Hollinshead, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Lisa Stephens, Education professional

Mr. James Croft, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Michelle Hough, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Ms. Sara Baker, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Ms. Jane Hill, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Miss Claire Jones, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Gemma Male, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Miss Laura Meyles, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. Steve Williams, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Sarah Keam, Parent or carer of a child with Special Educational Need

Mr. Paul Stephens, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mr. Will Stark, Education professional

Mrs. Jane Annis, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mr. Zac H, Young Person with Special Educational Need

Mrs. Pippa Denman, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mr. David Hinds, Education professional

Mrs. Tracey Smith, Education professional

Mrs. Nathalie Emanuel, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Mrs. Christine Clarke, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs

Lorna Phillips, Professional working with people with Special Educational Needs