Description
Develop Visual Skills for Children with Vision Impairment & CVI
Next course starts on 12th January 2027
Book Your Place on the Course
Course Overview
Develop your understanding of visual skills and learn practical strategies to support children with vision impairment (VI), cerebral visual impairment (CVI), SEND, PMLD and complex needs.
The Positive Looking Online Visual Skills Course is based on Positive Eye’s award-winning and internationally used Positive Looking Visual Skills Programme. Designed for teachers, teaching assistants, QTVIs, therapists and SEND professionals, this practical course helps participants identify, develop and support essential visual skills including visual awareness, visual attention, fixation, tracking, scanning and visually directed reaching.
Through six engaging online sessions, you will gain confidence in recognising visual behaviours, embedding visual skill development into everyday teaching and creating more inclusive learning opportunities for children with vision impairment and CVI. The course provides practical strategies, observation guidance and easy-to-use approaches that can be implemented immediately within classrooms, resource bases, special schools and early years settings.The programme is:
“Award winning, internationally used, changing practice.”
Whether you are new to visual development or looking to strengthen your existing practice, Positive Looking provides a clear framework to help children engage, participate, learn and achieve their full potential.
Engagement is enhanced when vision is prioritised. Vision is the primary sense through which children access the world, so placing it at the forefront of the curriculum can support increased engagement participation and positive impact on learning outcomes.
Research led by Professor Rachel Pilling and Gwyn McCormack, highlights the importance of meaningful activities, accessible learning environments and responsive support in promoting engagement, participation and successful learning outcomes for children and young people with complex needs. Read more about the research underpinning Positive Eye’s approach.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is ideal for:
- QTVIs
- Mainstream and Special School Teachers
- Teaching Assistants
- SENCOs and ALN staff
- Habilitation Specialists
- Learning Support Assistants
- Professionals supporting children and young people with vision impairment
The course is suitable for both mainstream and specialist educational settings.
Book your place today and discover practical strategies that can be implemented immediately to support children with Vision Impairment, CVI, SEND, PMLD and Complex Needs.
Structure and Delivery
The course delivers a practical simple understanding of the award winning and internationally used Positive Looking Visual Skills programme. The programme helps to facilitate the positive acquisition of visual skills in children with vision impairment (VI) and cerebral visual impairment (CVI).
The course is delivered through six online (on ZOOM) resource-rich sessions. These sessions demonstrate how visual skills can be included within the curriculum for the whole class, as well as for children with cerebral vision impairment or vision impairment. It guides targeted interventions, outlines observation points, and assists in identifying children’s responses.
Throughout the course, ideas and strategies are demonstrated using a wide range of low cost resources and approaches.
Additionally, inspiration is shared from the inclusive literacy programme, Marvin’s Story Time Show, to offer practical in-class methods to promote and develop visual skills.
Further Engagement
You are invited to sign up for the FREE Marvin Story Time Show as part of taking this award-winning course. Marvin’s Story Time Show is research based programme and is recognised as a highly contemporary model to support and promote the positive acquisition of Positive Looking visual skills for children with CVI, VI, PMLD, Complex Needs.
Marvin’s programme is a vehicle for change, enabling educators to use, adopt, re-create, and enhance their children’s opportunities to develop visual skills, engagement, participation, anticipation, realisation, and early literacy skills through this programme. Sign up here
Learning Objectives
1.Develop Practical Knowledge of Core Motor Visual Skills
Participants will gain a practical understanding of visual awareness, attention, fixation and tracking etc.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify and describe each visual skill (awareness, attention, fixation, tracking).
- Recognise where a child may need support with one or more visual skills.
- Select appropriate resources and strategies to encourage and strengthen these skills during daily routines and learning activities
2.Integrate Visual Skill Development into Everyday Teaching Practice
Participants will learn how to adapt learning environments and embed visual skill development within whole‑class teaching and targeted support for children with VI and CVI.
Participants will be able to:
- Plan and deliver lessons that naturally promote visual skills
- Adapt learning environments so children with VI and CVI can access curriculum activities.
- Adapt classroom activities so children with VI and CVI can access them meaningfully
- Implement strategies that support visual engagement for both individuals and the whole class.
3.Apply Inclusive Approaches Using Marvin’s Story Time Show
Participants will understand how to use Marvin’s Story Time Show to support positive acquisition of visual skills through inclusive, engaging literacy experiences.
Participants will be able to:
- Understand how to use Marvin’s Story Time Show to model and reinforce visual skills.
- Create or adapt visual activities inspired by the programme.
- Confidently integrate Marvin’s approaches into whole class or small‑group literacy sessions.
Sessions:
Time: 2.00 – 3.30pm UK | 9.00 – 10.30am ET | 8.00 – 9.30am CT
Session 1: Setting up the environment: 12th January 2027
Session 2: Visual Awareness: 19th January 2027
Session 3: Visual Attention: 26th January 2027
Session 4: Fixation and Tracking, Transferring Gaze: 1st February 2027
Session 5: Scanning and Visually Directed Reaching: 9th February 2027
Session 6: Visual discrimination of objects and Visual discrimination of images, Positive Looking in Literacy: 8th March 2027
Handouts and Powerpoint
It is not a requirement to purchase a copy of the Positive Looking Visual Skills Programme in order to attend the course. However, for schools intending to elevate the significance of vision within their whole school curriculum, investing in the programme is strongly recommended. This purchase represents a valuable, one-time investment that can support your school’s broader educational goals and move vision up the agenda.
Powerpoints are not shared as the course is predominately practical and the essential elements are already contained within the Positive Looking Visual Skills Programme
Find out more about the downloadable Positive Looking Visual Skills Programme here
Recordings of sessions
The sessions are recorded and made available for one week to watch on replay by the person taking the course only.
The recordings are not part of the price to take the course and are an added benefit offered by Positive Eye. However, if the recording is not successful for any reason, there is not a replacement offered. Hence, it is always advised to attend the live on ZOOM sessions.
Cost: £200
To pay by invoice email gwyn@positiveeye.co.uk to arrange or pay here on the shop.
What Practitioners Say About Positive Looking
“This course helped our team recognise and respond to the needs of children with cerebral visual impairment. The observation guidance and practical activities were invaluable.“ Head of Service for VI
“An outstanding visual skills course.
The practical strategies for developing visual awareness, visual attention, fixation and tracking have made an immediate difference to our SEND provision.“ Head of Specialist Setting
“The Positive Looking framework gave us a structured way to develop visual attention, tracking and scanning skills.
We quickly saw improvements in participation, communication and engagement.“ Teacher of Complex Needs
Read more testimonials and outcomes
Related Positive Eye Training and Resources
You may also be interested in:
Why Choose Positive Eye?
Positive Eye has supported schools, local authorities and specialist services for many years through high-quality training, consultancy and practical resources.
Our training combines:
- Contemporary evidence-informed practice
- Real-life classroom experience
- Practical and achievable strategies
- A strong focus on independence
- Specialist expertise in vision impairment education
We are committed to helping practitioners create meaningful learning opportunities that enable children and young people with vision impairment to thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Positive Looking Visual Skills Course
Who is the Positive Looking Online Visual Skills Course suitable for?
The course is suitable for teachers, QTVIs, QTMSIs, teaching assistants, therapists, SENCOs and other professionals supporting children with Vision Impairment (VI), Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI), SEND, PMLD and Complex Needs.
What visual skills are covered on the course?
The course provides practical guidance on developing visual awareness, visual attention, fixation, tracking, scanning, visually directed reaching and other essential visual skills that support engagement, participation and learning.
Is the course suitable for children with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI)?
Yes. The course explores how to support children with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) through observation, targeted intervention and practical visual skill development strategies that can be implemented within everyday teaching.
Do I need to own the Positive Looking Visual Skills Programme before attending the course?
No. It is not a requirement to own the Positive Looking Visual Skills Programme to attend the course. However, many schools choose to purchase the programme as it provides a comprehensive framework for ongoing assessment, planning and visual skill development.
Will I receive practical strategies that I can use immediately?
Yes. The course is highly practical and demonstrates low-cost resources, activities and approaches that can be implemented immediately within classrooms, resource bases, special schools and early years settings.
Can Positive Looking be used as a whole-school approach?
Yes. Positive Looking supports a consistent whole-school approach to developing visual skills and helps practitioners embed visual skill development across the curriculum.
Is the course delivered live?
Yes. The course is delivered live online via Zoom through six interactive sessions. Participants have opportunities to engage with the content, ask questions and explore practical examples.
How does Marvin’s Story Time Show link to the course?
The course includes examples and inspiration from Marvin’s Story Time Show, demonstrating how visual skills can be developed through engaging, inclusive and research-based literacy activities for children with Vision Impairment, CVI, PMLD and Complex Needs.
Ready to learn about practical strategies to support vision?
Watch the 5 minute overview about the Positive Looking Visual Skills Programme to find out more
Overview of the programme
Download: PositiveEye_Course_Calendar_2026-27
