A taster session was held yesterday in partnership with Guide Dogs UK, using music, movement, sensory play, crafts and stories to build confidence in children with visual impairments.
‘The Guernsey Blind Association is here to support anyone of any sight condition but the misconception is that it’s all older people,’ said Chantelle Tucker of the GBA.
‘However, there are an awful lot of children who are congenitally blind or have sight conditions which they develop.
‘We identified a bit of a gap in the needs of what was being provided locally for children up to five.
‘The education team are there and are great when the child is at school.
'There’s the orthoptic department, who will see them from babies, but there’s no sole pre-school group.’
It is understood that there are about 12 children locally under the age of five with visual impairment who could benefit from the sessions.
My Time to Play group is a successful programme run in the UK for visually impaired children, their parents and siblings.
‘The sessions can also be a monitor for the child’s development, how they’re hearing things, how they’re tracking light and noise, and it can be a support group for parents as well.
‘All of the VI children here will have different conditions, different levels of sight and their own individual challenges, but also their individual strengths.
‘It’s about tapping into those strengths and helping the parents know how to support them. Guide Dogs UK can then continue the support while they’re at school, such as rehabilitation or long cane training.’
About 80% of early learning typically happens through vision. Children with sight loss often need additional support to develop movement, mobility and spacial awareness.
My Time to Play aims to bridge the gap through fun, structured activities that encourage exploration and independence.
Take-up of the taster session will determine the demand for the programme locally.
If uptake is positive, the Guernsey Blind Association plans to host sessions every month.
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