Impact and Effectiveness of Insight at Pendle View Primary School in Colne, England.
Pendle View Primary School, in the heart of Lancashire, is where every child's journey is embraced with care and creativity. Pendle View caters to a special community of youngsters aged 2 to 11, each with unique gifts and talents. Whether they're navigating learning difficulties, overcoming physical limitations, or exploring the world on the autistic spectrum, Pendle View embraces them all. With a team of dedicated teachers, therapists, and assistants, the school ensures every child receives the support they need to thrive. From specialised sensory integration rooms to intensive support centres for children with complex needs, Pendle View caters to every learner. It's a place where smiles shine bright, challenges are embraced, and the joy of learning takes centre stage.
Pendle View fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment for a diverse student body. They welcome a wide range of students with diverse needs and learning styles. Upon arrival, each child receives a baseline assessment, leading to the creation of a personalised Individual Education Plan (IEP). They have a set of comprehensive systems of analysis so that over time, students’ progress can be tracked and reported accurately. However, assessing students with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) presented a distinct challenge. Traditional methods often fell short in capturing their full potential. Pendle View, a longtime user of HelpKidzLearn software, embraced the Insight program with keen interest. They were eager to evaluate how it could help them to assess their students and enrich their Individual Education Plans (IEPs) development. Insight's engaging suite of 100 activities promised not only to assess core visual skills, information processing, and student engagement, but also to spark enjoyment – a quality inherent in other HelpKidzLearn products. Pendle View were eager to see if their students enjoyed the activities as much as HelpKidzLearn’s other products.
Jess Gott, Communication & Computing Lead at Pendle View, shared how one student called Haris, presented a unique challenge. Initial assessments at an ophthalmology appointment indicated very limited vision, with the ability to track objects only within a dark environment and at close range. However, the results were often inconsistent. Over the course of the year, the adults working with him realised he was looking as if he was trying to track objects within busier and brighter environments. They decided to carry out dedicated assessments using HelpKidzLearn’s Insight software, a program specifically designed to assess and cater to the needs of learners with Cerebral Visual Impairments (CVI). The results were nothing short of remarkable. “Haris's visual attention scores soared to an impressive 70% and above, with his ability to notice images consistently exceeding 90%. This all created evidence for us to put together a bigger portfolio and develop our understanding of Haris and what his needs are and where we can go with that.” This breakthrough provided invaluable data for the school's support team. Armed with this evidence, they were able to develop a more comprehensive understanding of Haris's visual capabilities and tailor their approach accordingly. The insights gained through Insight software paved the way for the creation of a personalised learning plan, empowering Haris to explore his full potential and actively engage in the learning process. Pendle View's experience with HelpKidzLearn's Insight software serves as a testament to the transformative power of technology in supporting students with CVI. The software not only provided valuable insights into Haris's visual perception but also opened doors to a world of possibilities, allowing him to connect with the learning environment in a more meaningful way. Fran Clayton, Headteacher of Pendle View shared “The technical advances that have been available from HelpKidzLearn, have helped us to understand what our students can understand.” Traditional methods often overlook a student's true potential. Insight bridges this gap by providing an in-depth assessment system specifically designed for students with visual difficulties, learning challenges, and those in early development stages. Through eye tracking technology, Insight goes beyond observation, offering objective data on crucial visual and cognitive skills. This empowers educators like Pendle View, to identify hidden strengths and personalise learning strategies for each student.
