6th Positive Looking International Event

As the creator of the internationally recognised Positive Looking Visual Skills Programme, I was delighted to welcome practitioners who are using the approach in innovative and inspiring ways. Their presentations highlighted practical strategies, creative resources and meaningful outcomes for children and young people.

Exploring Positive Looking in Practice

The event featured three presentations from experienced professionals working directly with children with visual impairment and complex needs.

CVI: The American Perspective

Presented by Sarah Hovington, Advisory Teacher of Vision Impairment for Physical and Sensory Support, this session explored current thinking and practice around Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI), providing valuable insights into approaches being used internationally.

Positive Looking at Fairfield School

Lisa Hall shared how Fairfield School has embedded Positive Looking into everyday teaching and learning. The presentation included practical examples of resources, environmental adaptations and creative strategies that help children develop and use their visual skills throughout the school day.

Bringing Story to Life Through Positive Looking

Becky Dickens demonstrated how storytelling can be transformed into a rich visual and sensory experience for children with PMLD. By incorporating Positive Looking principles, stories become more accessible, engaging and meaningful, supporting communication, participation and literacy development.

Learning from an International Community

One of the strengths of the Positive Looking International Events is the opportunity to connect with professionals from different settings and countries. By sharing ideas, experiences and examples of best practice, we continue to build a global community committed to improving visual outcomes for children with VI and CVI.

The recording of this event remains a valuable professional development resource for teachers, teaching assistants, therapists, habilitation specialists and families looking to develop their understanding of visual skills and inclusive practice.

Continuing the Positive Looking Journey

Positive Looking is about creating opportunities for children to see, find, use and develop their vision throughout the day. The examples shared during this event demonstrate how simple, practical approaches can make a significant difference to engagement, learning and independence.

By learning from one another and sharing successful practice, we can continue to ensure that every child has access to meaningful visual experiences and opportunities to thrive