Supporting a child who is visually impaired with exam revision

Exam season can be stressful for any child, but for a visually impaired student, it can bring added challenges. As a parent or carer, your support is vital. Here’s how to help them feel confident, prepared and emotionally supported.

Understand your child’s exam access needs

• Confirm what arrangements are in place- Braille papers, extra time, screen readers, large print, or a scribe.
• Meet with your child’s support teacher or school SENCO to ensure everything is in place ahead of the exams.

Create a supportive environment at home

• Help your child to stick to a routine that includes downtime.
• Make sure their study space is free of distractions and suited to their needs (lighting, audio input, tactile tools)

Recommend VI-friendly resources

• RNIB Bookshare provides schools with free access to textbooks in audio, braille, or large print formats.
• Audible has revision audio books, including study guides for English Language and English Literature, as well as podcasts like “GCSE Study Guides” and “Master the Page”
• Calibre Audio offers free fiction and non-fiction audio books for VI users.
• BBC Bitesize is a great revision site with lots of audio and video content. You can also use the screen reader-friendly mobile app.
• YouTube has lots of brilliant revision channels like Mr Bruff (English); Mr Sables (English); Free Science Lessons; Primrose Kitten (Science); and Hegarty Maths.

Encourage well-being and mental health

• Exams are stressful. Be there to listen, not just give advice.
• Mindfulness apps like Headspace, Smiling Mind or Insight Timer are Voiceover-friendly and good for stress relief.
• Encourage breaks, snacks, movement, and even short meditation.

Praise the effort, not just the outcome

• Remind them it’s okay to have off days.
• Celebrate small wins, finishing a past paper, revising for 30 minutes, asking for help when needed.

Play interactive games

• Turn revision content into oral quiz games like Who Wants to Be A Millionaire or The Chase.
• You could even add sound effects to make it more fun.

Use music and mnemonics to boost memory

• Turn revision content into songs, rhymes or raps (great for memorising dates, formulas, or key quotes)
• Don’t worry if you’re not a poet. Just ask the free AI tool ChatGPT to write a song about any revision topic. You can even ask it to write the song to the tune of your child’s favourite tracks.
• Use mnemonics and acronyms your child can easily remember.
• Similar to the songs, Chat GPT can help you come up with funny and memorable mnemonics. Just specify the topic content and it will generate a personalised mnemonic.

Explore real-life contexts

• Relate topics to real-life experiences, for example
• Maths: use shopping, cooking, or budgeting to revise percentages or ratios.
• Geography: talk about local weather or places you’ve visited to explain concepts.
• Science: do safe, hands-on experiments with household items.

Learn together

• Discuss topics on a walk or during a car journey.
• Read your child’s set text for English Lit and compare notes over dinner.
• Sit down and watch a documentary or TV programme relevant to topics.

Practice past papers together

• Instead of printing past papers, read the questions aloud.
• Time them gently while they answer verbally, then discuss the answers together.

Personalise audio notes

• Record subject summaries in your own voice, adding little jokes or sound effects to make it more memorable.

Motivation is key

• Arrange things for your child to look forward to.
• This could be their favourite meal; a movie night; fun outing; or plans for when the exams are finished.

Believe in them loudly

• Let them hear and feel that you know they’re capable, resilient and valued far beyond their exam results.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

• You’re doing an amazing job of supporting your child, but you’re not alone.
• Charities like VICTA are always here to listen and give advice.