NHS England » Update for commissioners to enable preparation for the implementation of sensory checks in special educational settings

Classification: Official
Publication reference: PRN00963iii

To:

Regional single points of contact for dental, optometry, and hearing

cc.

To be cascaded on to integrated care boards; regional learning disability and autism leads; regional SEND leads

Dear colleagues,

Update for commissioners to enable preparation for the implementation of sensory checks in special educational settings

I am writing to provide an update on the next steps for ear checks, dental checks and sight testing within special educational settings (SES) and to share important information and documentation to support systems to put in place local commissioning arrangements.

The commissioning of sensory checks supports the NHS Long Term Plan commitment to provide ear checks, dental checks, and sight tests to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in all special residential educational settings and sight testing in all special educational settings.

Overview for ear checks

To assist integrated care boards (ICBs) with the commissioning of ear check services in special residential schools and colleges, we have provided:

a copy of the practicing standards and clinical guidance and associated ICB ear check commissioning guidance, including a draft service specification for ear checks, a service pilot evaluation report summary and wider supporting documentation – NHS England » Ear checks for children and young people in residential special schools and colleges in England.

Overview for sight testing and dental

A joint announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England was made on 19 June 2023, detailing that the sight testing service would be expanded to all special educational settings.

The 2024/25 priorities and operational planning guidance asks systems to implement annual sight tests within special day and residential schools, and dental checks within special residential schools during 2024/25, following engagement with SES and market testing.

To assist integrated care boards (ICBs) with the commissioning of these services, we have provided alongside this communication:

a copy of the draft national commissioning standard and service specification for sight testing and a draft service specification for dental checks
for sight testing, the service specification includes a suite of template forms to support service implementation at a local level.

Sight testing

NHS England ran a series of engagement events and online feedback for proposed changes to the proof of concept (POC) sight testing service specification. A report detailing the feedback received as part of the engagement activities has been published alongside the draft sight testing service specification.

As elements of the sight testing specification remain subject to development of national key performance indicators (KPIs) and formal consultation on required regulatory changes, we are unable to finalise and publish the specification until this work has been completed and all regulatory changes have been laid before parliament later this year. Commissioners are asked to use the draft specification to support local engagement until this point, as they start preparatory work in advance of finalising procurements.

We anticipate that the SES sight test fee will be published in Directions around the same time.

As previously communicated, the claiming of ongoing sight test activity under existing proof of concept contracts transferred to Primary Care Support Services England (PCSE) on 1 April 2024; NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) have ceased supporting the contract management for the programme.

ICBs with POC contracts have been funded to continue to manage these contracts until regulatory change is in place to commission an expanded service, in line with the planning guidance commitment.

Commissioners are required to manage the POC contracts, including processing contract variations and addressing contractor queries, and will approve claim requests for second pairs. ICBs are asked to ensure – per previous guidance – they have confirmed their contact details with the relevant proof-of-concept contractors.

Repairs and replacements for over-16s will require pre-authorisations from NHSBSA, as per the GOS 4 process. Further details are available on the NHSBSA website.

We will also produce and publish a new national bespoke model contract for sight testing once legislation is in place for use by systems as procurement is finalised.

Dental checks

A clinical standard was published on the NHS England website in October 2022. To further support commissioners, a model contract has also been published.

To support ICBs you will find a draft service specification available via our FutureNHS platform. This is being shared in advance of national KPIs being agreed to enable commissioners to commence planning for procuring new services for SES.

Financial allocations

Financial allocations to deliver the ear check service have recently been transferred to ICBs, based on a Fair-shares basis, as part of the 2024/25 Service Development Fund (SDF).

Financial allocations to deliver the sight testing rollout will be released in due course, reflecting an appropriate part-year impact once regulations have been laid in Parliament. These allocations should be used to fund both costs of the new service and any residual proof of concept costs beyond the point of the rollout.

Financial allocations to deliver the dental service have already been confirmed as part of the 2024/25 Service Development Fund (SDF).

Procurement support offer sight testing and dental

NHS England is committed to assisting ICBs to procure sight and dental services for special educational settings. A support offer will be put in place incorporating the following elements:

Engagement with SES via issue of communications to introduce the service and capture expressions of interest to all SES settings, and a series of webinars at national level aimed specifically at SES settings.
Issuing of a national high-level PIN aimed at the provider From this, a series of engagement events will be held with interested providers and, where applicable, individual question and answer (Q&A) sessions will be held.
Issuing of an outcome report to each ICB detailing the number of SESs interested in service provision immediately and in the foreseeable future, as well as an indication of the potential interested provider market.
The outcome report, where applicable, will also indicate under which section of the provider selection regime (PSR) ICBs may commence either direct contract award, selection process, or procurement.
A dedicated session for the ophthalmic sector to understand the rules, regulations, and processes relating to the PSR, and how to look for and competitively bid for contracts.

The above offer covers both the optometry and dental sectors.

We will provide a timeline and further update on full offer details shortly.

If you have any questions or queries regarding sight testing or dental checks do not hesitate to contact england.dentaloptoms@nhs.net. Any questions or queries relating to ear checks should be directed to england.cyplearningdisabilityandautism@nhs.net

Yours sincerely,

Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services
Tom Cahill, National Director, Learning Disability and Autism programme