St. Vincent's School
A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs
English
Here at St Vincent, English provides pupils with visual and sensory impairments the opportunity to develop essential communication skills, fostering confidence in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Fully aligned to the National Curriculum, our approach ensures that all pupils can access the core objectives through carefully adapted, multisensory teaching strategies, including tactile resources, auditory materials, and interactive activities that reduce barriers to learning. We place a strong emphasis on reading and phonics, recognising the vital importance of literacy for Braille users and the role it plays in developing independence, comprehension, and lifelong learning skills.
Our vision is for pupils to enjoy exploring language, to express their ideas clearly, and to develop comprehension, vocabulary, and creative skills that enable them to engage with the world around them. English at our school empowers pupils to become confident communicators, independent learners, and imaginative thinkers, while also building resilience, critical thinking, and the ability to connect their learning across subjects and real-life contexts.
Reading, Phonics and Writing
Here at our school, Reading, Phonics and Writing are at the heart of our curriculum and central to every pupil’s success. Fully aligned to the objectives set out in the National Curriculum, we are committed to ensuring that all pupils with visual and sensory impairments have the opportunity to develop strong literacy skills that will support their communication, independence, and lifelong learning.
We have a whole-school approach on reading and literacy, recognising its vital importance in unlocking access to all areas of the curriculum. For pupils who are blind or visually impaired, this includes a strong emphasis on Braille literacy and tactile learning, while phonics teaching ensures that every child is given the tools to decode, read with fluency, and build comprehension. Writing is developed hand-in-hand with reading, with pupils supported to express themselves clearly, creatively, and with increasing accuracy and confidence.
Our vision is for pupils to enjoy stories, language, and writing in forms that are accessible and meaningful to them, developing a love of reading that fosters curiosity, imagination, and cultural awareness. Through carefully adapted teaching, multisensory approaches, and consistent high expectations, pupils are supported to achieve their potential and to see themselves as successful readers and writers.
Reading, Phonics and Writing at our school empower pupils to find their voice, to connect with the world around them, and to develop the essential skills that will enrich their learning and lives far beyond the classroom.