RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning was a school and children’s home for young people who are blind or

partially sighted Visual impairment, also known as vision impairment, is a medical definition primarily measured based on an individual's better eye visual acuity; in the absence of treatment such as correctable eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment� ...

and who also have multiple

disabilities Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, se ...

or complex needs such as severe or profound learning disabilities, physical disabilities, additional sensory impairment, healthcare needs and autistic spectrum disorders. The school was run by

RNIB The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is a UK charity offering information, support and advice to almost two million people in the UK with sight loss. History The RNIB was founded by Thomas Rhodes Armitage, a doctor who had eye ...

(Royal National Institute of Blind People). It was based just outside

Coventry Coventry ( or ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its ...

. The children's home at RNIB Pears Centre offered up to 52-week specialised residential care from new purpose-built bungalows with gardens and outdoor play areas. The children's home supported young people from ages 0–19 years, whether or not they attended the school and each young person had their own bedroom which was made safe and personal to them. RNIB Pears Centre also offered individually tailored therapies from an in-house team of therapists and healthcare consultants, including behavioural specialists trained in the care of people with learning disabilities, nurses, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. RNIB Pears Centre was categorised by

Ofsted The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a Non-ministerial government department, non-ministerial department of Government of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament of the U ...

as a special, non-maintained school for 2- to 19-year-olds and as a children's home. Each service was inspected independently of one another by Ofsted. The children's home was rated as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted in November 2011. The school also achieved an 'Outstanding' Ofsted grading in February 2013, but in November 2017 it was graded as inadequate. On Tuesday 4 September 2018 the RNIB announced both the children's home and school will close on 7 November 2018, as the RNIB closed the children's home on site. The school was previously known as Rushton Hall School and then RNIB Rushton School and Children's Home. In May 2011 the name changed to RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning – the new name reflected the donation and support given to the school by the Pears Foundation.

History

The school was founded in 1957, at

Rushton Hall Rushton Hall in Rushton, Northamptonshire, England, was the ancestral home of the Tresham family from 1438, when William Tresham, a veteran of the Battle of Agincourt and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster bought the estate. In the 20th centu ...

in Northamptonshire. In 2002, the school moved to a shared site with Exhall Grange School in Coventry.RNIB website – About RNIB Pears Centre
/ref> In 2005, planning began for a major redevelopment of the entire school site. The redevelopment was finished in 2012.

Redevelopment

Planning to redevelop the site began in 2005 and work started in 2009. The first phase of work was completed during 2011. This involved a new school, five new bungalows and a new reception/administration building. The second phase was completed in 2012. Empty buildings were knocked down and the site landscaped. The centre was officially opened on 13 September 2012 by

The Princess Royal Princess Royal is a style customarily (but not automatically) awarded by a British monarch to their eldest daughter. Although purely honorary, it is the highest honour that may be given to a female member of the royal family. There have been sev ...

. Further development in the future may include more accommodation, a hydrotherapy suite and a swimming pool.

Rushton and Pears

In May 2011, Rushton School and Children's Home was renamed RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning. This is due to the Pears Foundation's investment of £1.1 million towards the redevelopment work.

References

External links

RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning on the RNIB website
{{DEFAULTSORT:RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning Schools for people on the autistic spectrum Schools for the blind in the United Kingdom Defunct schools in Warwickshire Educational institutions established in 1957 1957 establishments in England Defunct special schools in England