Partners in Learning – Advanced Certificate for education support staff

Specialist online training for education support staff working with children and young people with vision impairment (now available with a one or two-year pathway: you can now choose to study over one year or spread the course across two years)

Gain the knowledge and skills you need to provide equitable access to education and enable the best outcomes for learners with vision impairment in your setting.

Partners in Learning teaches best practice in vision impairment education, following the sector-endorsed Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI).

Quick Details

Who Is This Course For?

This course is designed for education support staff who work with blind or partially sighted children and young people:

  • Teaching assistants and Learning Support Assistants 
  • Teachers
  • Support workers
  • Early years practitioners

Choose Your Study Pathway

Both pathways include comprehensive tutor-led training at the same cost.

One-Year Pathway

  • Complete all six units within one year – ideal for those who want to gain specialist knowledge quickly and apply it sooner.

Two-Year Pathway

  • Spread the same content over two years – perfect for pacing your study around work or other commitments.

Key Features

  • Developed jointly by RNIB and The Open University and delivered by VIEW
  • Equivalent to level 3 study
  • Delivered online with tutor-supported study and discussion activities
  • Includes two live online training sessions via Zoom
  • Six units completed over 12 or 24 months (group-based learning with peer interaction)
  • Starts September 2025 with an introductory Zoom training day
  • Course fee: £850 (£710 for VIEW members)

What You’ll Learn

By completing Partners in Learning, you will:

  • Understand vision impairment and its implications for educational and social development
  • Acquire skills and techniques to support learners and foster independence both inside and outside the classroom
  • Develop an appreciation of effective teamwork in supporting learners
  • Build positive working relationships that promote learner independence and active participation in planning and decision-making

Entry Requirements

To join this course, you need:

✓ Education to GCSE standard, NVQ Level 2 or equivalent experience/qualifications
✓ Regular work with one or more children/young people with visual impairment during the course
✓ Regular access to broadband internet and email facilities
✓ Employer support for the period of your training

How to Apply

Need More Details?

Feedback from the field

  • The content of the course is detailed and relevant as well as offering access to further information should I wish to research something further, particularly if it is applicable to the children that I currently support. I feel that a key benefit of the course is that it allows me to understand the theory behind the provision for children with VI. This helps me to ensure a consistent high level of support for children in mainstream, when a QTVI is not on site, because I more thoroughly understand the intended outcomes of the specialist input. Although I have supported children with VI for a while, I feel that I have been given some new ideas through discussions with others working within other Local Authorities. The course has offered me a challenge and I feel that it has been worthwhile to improve my professional practice.
  • “The course has provided an experienced teaching assistant with a very interesting focus and a high level of challenge. At school, we have been able to use her expertise to make significant changes in our provision for several pupils. This has involved making and adapting teaching resources and approaches and thinking creatively about the learning environment for pupils with visual impairment. The course is clearly very practical and motivating. A further ‘spin off’ of is that many of the newly acquired skills and knowledge have been shared in a very positive way with other teaching and support staff.”
  • “This was a very high quality course, every task is relevant, every part of it worthwhile.”
  • “I have benefited greatly from this course. I felt that I have not only re-affirmed what I am doing as Curriculum Access Specialist is correct, but also learnt so much more through the self-learning and discussions with others. I found the content of the course valuable and through all the links provided I can carry on with my own research and look into other aspects to which I am drawn.”
  • “I just wanted to say a personal ‘Thank You’ for such a great course! I have learnt so much and definitely know that doing PIL will help me to improve my working practice. I am actually a bit gutted it has finished!”
  • “The course was brilliant, I would certainly recommend anyone working with VI children that get the chance to do the course to do so. I will miss it. Thank you all for putting so much into it for us.”
  • “I found this excellent course motivating and thought provoking, thank you all for all the support and encouragement, I hope it makes me far more sensitive and effective supporting the visually impaired students I work with.”