At Temple Bank we offer Visually Impaired young people a range of activities and experiences outside of the school environment from which visually impaired children can benefit. These activities have been included as part of the curriculum at our school both on a daily basis and as a programme of residential visits which have taken place throughout the school year, and involved almost every pupil in the school.

This year for the first time we have extended this provision to visually impaired pupils from other mainstream schools in Bradford. The eventual aim of this project is to develop this provision to be available to other visually impaired young persons who live outside Bradford.

1. To develop a range of Outdoor Activities for Visually Impaired young people.

2. Through these activities to develop a range of skills and abilities

e.g. mobility and co-ordination; independence; living skills and self-care; sports and leisure interests.

3. To provide a service which organisations such as the RNIB and Guide Dogs for the Blind can support and make use of.

At Temple Bank each class is timetabled for one half day session of Outdoor Education per week and we have our own mini-bus, supported by the Variety Club of Great Britain.

In addition we organise a very intensive schedule of residential experiences which all pupils are invited to take part in. This involves a two night class residential which almost every pupil in the school takes part in, and for the older pupils we offer a series of residential activities which has included multi-activity residentials, small ‘expeditions’ by tandem cycle and by canoe, and also sailing on the West Coast of Scotland.

The Outdoor Education programme is provided by a dedicated body of school staff who bring a range of expertise and experiences. Most of the residential visits are self supported and managed.

In our OFSTED report (October 1997) the Outdoor Education program was praised as " well planned...........expectations are high, but appropriate for individual pupils, with activities that are challenging but fun. There is very good attention to health and safety and the equipment is carefully maintained." The report also comments that "Residential trips increase the range of activities the pupils can take part in and make a significant contribution to the development of the pupils. The Outdoor education and residential trips are a strength of the school."