Free sight tests in all special schools

Minister Neil O’Brien confirmed the extension

Free NHS sight tests will be made available within all special school settings, the government and NHS England (NHSE) confirmed today.

Additional testing in special education day schools will be rolled out next year, adding to the commitment in the NHS Long Term Plan to offer sight tests within residential special schools. The move “will save sight and transform lives” said SeeAbility CEO, Lisa Hopkins.

As reported by DO Online in March, optical bodies, stakeholders and the charity sector had been calling on NHSE to take action on a national programme of eyecare in special schools that ceased rolling out last summer.

Today, the government said: “Pupils at special schools can face additional challenges in accessing sight testing services via opticians and a successful pilot scheme has proven the benefits of receiving tests and personalised advice in their familiar learning environments”.

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

Confirming the extension, parliamentary under secretary of state (minister for primary care and public health) 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.”

According to SeeAbility, children with learning disabilities are 28 times more likely to suffer from a serious sight problem. NHSE introduced the pilot sight testing programme in special schools in 2021 with the aim of rolling these out in residential special schools. Following the pilot’s success, the provision will be extended to all day schools.

SeeAbility welcomed the news, with its CEO Lisa Hopkins stating: “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 eyecare for people with learning disabilities.”

NHSE national director for primary care and community services, Dr Amanda Doyle, said: “I am delighted that the NHS will be able to offer free eye tests to around 165,000 pupils in special school settings in England from next year, meaning they will no longer need to travel to unfamiliar environments for healthcare. In its 75th year, the NHS is determined to improve access to healthcare, with the health service also providing care in thousands of people’s homes through virtual wards, while pharmacists are offering almost one million blood pressure checks a year on people’s local high streets.”

Dan Scorer, head of policy at Mencap, said: “Mencap welcomes this vital extension of the service to all children in special schools. Undiagnosed sight issues amongst children with a learning disability form major barriers to learning and development, and the extension of the service is a further important step towards improving access to eyecare services for everyone with a learning disability.”

Max Halford, ABDO clinical lead, commented: “We welcome the government’s announcement on the future of the special schools service, which has removed a degree of short-term uncertainty. The concept of optometrists and dispensing opticians working as a clinical team to deliver care in the school setting continues to be transformational for so many of these children. This is a good news story for all of the children whose access to eyecare cannot be delivered in traditional settings – and we congratulate SeeAbility and sector colleagues who have worked tirelessly to keep the eyecare of children at special schools on the government’s agenda. We look forward to working with them to ensure the long-term success of this service.”

NHSE will shortly begin a period of engagement with key stakeholders, special schools and the public, to further develop the scheme before it’s introduced from 2024/25. While this engagement takes place, existing arrangements for testing will continue.