MSI Unit Curriculum - Sense

Victoria School: MSI Unit CurriculumIntroductionAbout us – Birmingham MSI Unit at Victoria SchoolThe Birmingham MSI Unit, based at Victoria School, is a regional resourceserving five local authorities. Pupils attending the Unit have multi-sensoryimpairment (MSI) – combined hearing and visual impairments, often withadditional physical, sensory, medical and/or learning difficulties. Pupils havesome degree of independent mobility (by any method).The Unit is one of a handful of specialist MSI facilities in the UK, and is a centreof excellence. Teaching staff at the Unit hold additional specialist qualificationsincluding the mandatory qualifications in hearing impairment, visual impairmentand multi-sensory impairment. Staffing and expertise levels are high. The Unitregularly hosts visits and teaching placements by staff specialising in MSI fromthe UK and overseas.In order to meet the specific needs of pupils with MSI, the Unit follows adifferent curriculum from the main school, described in the most recent OFSTEDinspection as anexcellent curriculum specifically for pupils with multi-sensory impairments.(June 2007)It addresses the particular learning needs of pupils with MSI who are working atP Levels P1-P8 in order to give them the awareness, experience, understandingand learning skills they need to access National Curriculum programmes of studysuccessfully. Pupils who complete the MSI Unit curriculum follow a modified formof the National Curriculum with additional elements to meet their specific needs.7