Special Schools Eye Care Service

Opened the debate

I am concerned about the higher level of sight problems in children attending special schools, with four out of five children with a severe learning disability requiring eye care. The issue was highlighted by statistics showing that these children are 28 times more likely to have a sight problem than other children. Only one in ten children has ever had an NHS sight test, and over four in ten have no history of eye care. There is ambiguity about whether the service will be limited to residential special schools only, despite all the important work done so far in day special schools.

Government Response

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Bardell. I thank the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Siobhain McDonagh) for securing this important and timely debate. People with learning disabilities experience a higher prevalence of visual impairment than the general population. The hon. Lady said they are 28 times more likely to have a serious sight problem. More than 40% require the use of glasses. NHS England and NHS Improvement are responsible for contracting the testing service to meet local need. All children under the age of 16, or 19 in full-time education, are entitled to free NHS sight tests on the high street. However, attending a high-street sight test is easier said than done for some children with learning disabilities. High-street services can meet many children's needs but such children often do not like crowded, busy places and going into a high-street optician whom they do not know can be quite difficult. SeeAbility does a lot of work to support high-street opticians to make them aware of specific needs including familiarisation visits, extended and split appointments, as well as adapting how the sight test is undertaken. Some children might need three or four visits just to put on a pair of glasses and have the eye test. A hospitalised service can provide routine eye-care services but there can be challenges with hospital visits. Departments are busy, often in out-patient settings, with multiple patients and healthcare professionals, which is difficult for children with learning disabilities. The long-term plan has made the commitment to ensure that children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both in residential schools have access to eye checks. The proof-of-concept programme started pilots in residential and day schools across many parts of the country, including London, the north-west, the north-east and Yorkshire, involving more than 93 special schools, with over 3,000 children having received an eye test, and more than 1,300 required and received glasses. Sight testing in special residential schools means that children receive their eye care in a familiar place. The residential setting also needs the services that the day school has received. We are able to share a child's visual ability and needs between parents, children and teachers and share how that is likely to develop and impact their learning. When children need glasses, they are provided free of charge including a spare pair. NHS England will be evaluating the proof-of-concept programme when it comes to an end in July. I am happy to organise a meeting with the hon. Lady and NHS officials to discuss this so she has some certainty that she can take back to parents and teachers at Perseid, who value this service very much.