At The Children's Trust school, we recognise that children with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) often face significant visual challenges, even without a formal diagnosis of visual impairment. In response, we developed SEE LIKE ME, a whole-school initiative that rethinks how we approach vision, engagement, and accessibility for our learners.
For children with PMLD, even small environmental factors - like lighting, colour contrast, and physical positioning - can severely limit what and how they see. SEE LIKE ME addresses this by embedding practical, research-informed strategies across the curriculum and daily routines to promote meaningful visual engagement.
Staff training has been a cornerstone of this work. Through the use of simulation spectacles, sensory-based learning approaches, and the OCN-accredited course ‘Understanding the Needs of Individuals with PMLD’, staff have developed deep empathy and insight into how visual experiences vary. One simple but powerful change has been the shift to wearing black clothing to improve contrast, with one pupil commenting: “Wearing black is good to see.”
Our work has been further strengthened by partnerships with Positive Eye and SeeAbility, allowing us to refine our own bespoke Functional Vision Assessments. These tools help us tailor support even more closely to individual needs.
SEE LIKE ME has also reached beyond the classroom. Collaborating with the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera House, we’ve helped artists and educators better understand how to adapt creative experiences for children with visual processing difficulties - opening up access to the arts in new and exciting ways.
The impact has been clear. From improved pupil engagement to powerful staff reflections and meaningful external collaborations, SEE LIKE ME is not just a project—it’s a culture shift. One that is transforming how we see our learners, and how they see the world.
