Special schools eye care service
The special schools eye care service has been running as a proof-of-concept since May 2021 and is currently live in 83 schools. On the 19 June 2023 the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England issued a joint statement to confirm that sight testing in special schools would be expanded into all special school settings from April 2024.
NHS England has produced an engagement document, In school eye testing for pupils in special schools in England, along with the Special schools eye care proof-of-concept evaluation report which was conducted in October/November 2022. Both documents provide some background to the service along with proposals for how the future model can be amended in order to build upon the beneficial and positive aspects of the proof of concept.
Update for commissioners on implementation of sensory checks in special educational settings
NHS England has published information on the next steps for ear checks, dental checks and sight testing within special educational settings (SES), which includes 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.
Engagement report – for sight testing and dispensing of spectacles to SEND children and young people in a special educational setting across England
NHS England undertook a period of engagement with patients, parents and carers, schools and the optical profession between 30 August 2023 and 16 October 2023 and the outputs of this engagement were published on the 30 August 2023. The report summarises the feedback received along with actions we will undertake. An easy read version of this document will be available shortly.