Children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities

Children with special educational needs secure ‘crucial’ eye care support in day and residential special schools

Roll out of annual sight tests for children with special educational needs in day and residential schools is welcome but the need for consistent delivery should not be ignored

The Government and NHS England have announced that children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities will be offered NHS funded sight tests in day or residential special schools and colleges in England, in addition to hearing and dental checks, which will be offered in residential schools.

The announcement follows a pilot programme of the Special Schools Eye Care Service (SSECS) which was implemented in special schools across England in 2022 and was extended in 2023 to 2024.

Research on the issue carried out by the Association of Optometrists with its members last year found:

• 65% of UK optometrists said they believe that many SEN children are ‘experiencing a lower quality of life’ due to inadequate provision of NHS eye care services
• 40% of all children in special schools require glasses but many of those with severe learning difficulties find it highly distressing to have an examination in a hospital, eye clinic or at a High Street opticians.

Adam Sampson, Chief Executive of the Association of Optometrists said: “We welcome the announcement that children with special educational needs will be able to access sight tests in day or residential schools, which will significantly reduce the barriers to accessing eye care for these children. Children with special educational needs are 28 times more likely to have a serious sight condition, and they face real challenges in accessing eye care due to the potential for anxiety or distress when getting their sight tested in unfamiliar settings. Having annual sight checks in their school will ensure they can access the crucial eye care they require, with eye conditions identified and treated as soon as possible.

“Through our Sight for SEN campaign, we have supported the implementation of the SSECS from the outset. We have consistently campaigned for greater access to eye care for all children attending special schools to address the health inequalities impacting children with special educational needs. We know how necessary eye health checks are for children in both day and residential special schools and we will continue to support this vital service which makes a tremendous difference in the lives the children and their families.

“As much as it’s a promising announcement which will benefit thousands of pupils, necessary discussions now need to be had to ensure the best delivery of the service is possible for providers. Without clarity on the provisions, eye care providers could find it difficult to offer the service, deepening inequalities in the consistency of the delivery of the service.”

As part of its Sight for SEN campaign the AOP promotes the importance of SSECS to ensure long-term delivery of the service.