RISO Education Solutions

John F Kennedy Special School

John F Kennedy School educates children with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD). Many pupils at the school have more than one disability, including visual impairment. Severe disability can result in an individual not being able to achieve their full capacity. To ensure that all pupils realise their potential, the school tailors education to capability and delivers it on a one-to-one basis.

Head teacher Gill Goldsmith is committed to providing the best for each and every child. “We believe in the worth and value of all pupils. They are entitled to a broad and balanced education. We ensure they are supported and challenged, have access to an environment and resources which meet their needs, and experience the widest range of opportunities. We are determined to raise the achievement of all pupils.”

Technology can help raise pupil achievement levels. The school uses digital photography to assist development. Teacher and ICT co-ordinator Robert Sutton explained: “Many students can’t express themselves through writing or drawing so we use cameras to record work. A photograph of a pupil participating in physiotherapy or other activities visibly demonstrates what they have achieved. We print them in colour and display them as a record of attainment.”

For pupils with sight disability, colour print is essential. Colour can make the difference between recognising an image and seeing an amorphous shape. The school was an early adopter of colour with printers available in most classrooms. But the school faced a dilemma. Whilst colour was an essential communication tool, excessive print costs impacted the budget and made it necessary to restrict use.

“The old printers were horrendously expensive to run. We had to lock cartridges away to restrict use!” The school turned to education print specialist RISO for help. RISO supplied a high speed production printer that produces colour prints and copies at low page cost. The machine is networked and accessible to all, enabling teachers to produce colour prints as required at a fraction of the cost.

Low print costs have transformed attitudes to colour printing. “We no longer feel restricted and produce more colour output than ever before. We are able to print larger sizes too; A3 colour images are easier to see. We even use colour for home communication, printing our newsletters in colour so that parents can take pride in their child’s achievements.”
 

For more information call 0800 917 2020
RISO