News from the government that NHS sight tests will be on offer to all pupils in their special schools from 2024/2025 has been welcomed by learning disability, autism and sight loss charity SeeAbility as ‘life changing and sight saving’.

SeeAbility’s research concluded that children with learning disabilities are 28 times more likely to have a sight problem than other children, meaning half of the special school population will have a problem with their eyesight.

The NHS England Special Schools Eye Care service was set up in 2021 based on a SeeAbility recommended model of care and research evidence of high levels of unmet need from previous special school eye care services. It provides special schools with a visiting ‘one stop shop’ of sight testing and glasses dispensing as well as a user-friendly report for parents and teachers.

For many children with learning disabilities the service offers a first chance to build familiarity with NHS eye care and have sight issues treated, as parents report their children struggle to cope with appointments in the community or hospital, and to adjust to wearing glasses.

SeeAbility currently provides this eye care support in over two dozen special schools in London for 3,000 children, and champions better eye care for all adults and children with learning disabilities and autistic people.

Having introduced the NHS service to over 80 special schools up to 2022, the government has now confirmed it will be rolled out to a further 165,000 children in all special schools from 2024/25.

Minister Neil O’Brien said:

“I am pleased we will be able to support sight testing for all pupils in special schools, an environment where they feel more comfortable.

“We have worked closely with NHS England, stakeholders and charities to extend this important service and thousands of pupils will benefit as a result.

“It’s vital for all children to have access to NHS sight tests and I’m grateful to all those who helped make this possible.

“Backed by a more than £10 million investment, the extension is expected to help up to an estimated 165,000 more children and will begin from 2024/25."

SeeAbility’s CEO Lisa Hopkins said:

“The announcement today means thousands of children who would have no other way of getting sight tests and glasses will now get a service in their school, and many thousands more will not have to attend hospital eye clinic appointments. It is no exaggeration to say sight will be saved and lives will be transformed.

“Thank you to everyone who has held firm for this model of care during a period of uncertainty. Today is such a significant and wonderful step forward in improving eye care for people with learning disabilities.

“We look forward to working with the government, NHS and all who have made this work possible over many years to make this newly planned rollout

successful. We’ll also continue the work to improve eye care for all people with learning disabilities!”

Parent Alyson Farrell said:

"My daughter Ellie benefitted from the NHS service, but she moved to a school where it hadn’t rolled out to and had to go back to hospital instead for sight tests and glasses. Hospital visits make her so anxious and are a real challenge.

“It means everything to us and I’m sure to thousands more parents to definitively know the scheme will roll out to all special schools at last.”

Perseid School in Merton is one of the schools where SeeAbility provides eye tests. Head teacher Tina Harvey said:

“The difference it has made to our children is absolutely profound. Especially for the children who had previously never had an eye test, but were found to need glasses.”

ENDS

Media enquiries: media@seeability.org

Or call: Donna O’Brien, 07708 199392 or Greg Matthews, 07789 960774

Notes to editors

· For more info on the Special Schools Eye Care Service and advice on eye care for children with learning disabilities visit SeeAbility’s website: https://www.seeability.org/eye-care and on Twitter #EqualRightToSight @seeability.

· Watch SeeAbility’s 1 min film on eye care in special schools: https://youtu.be/3Z7ZaSfdSM0

· Government press release 19 June 2023: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/free-sight-tests-for-special-schools

· SeeAbility provides specialist support for people with learning disabilities and autism, many of whom have sight loss. We champion better eye care

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