Special School Eye Care Service

A charity supporting people who have learning difficulties or autism, who may also have sight loss, has won an NHS contract to extend its Special School Eye Care Service to tens of thousands more children.

In the past year, SeeAbility has reached more than 3,000 children in London’s special schools and colleges under a proof-of-concept service contract.

Under the new contract, the charity is expected to support almost 30,000 children in London, as well as 40,000 in the Thames Valley, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Medway.

“We are absolutely delighted that most special schools in London and much of the Southeast will now be able to benefit from SeeAbility’s eye care and glasses provision to optimally support every student to achieve their visual potential,” said Lisa Donaldson, Director of Eye Care & Vision at SeeAbility.

“This development follows over a decade of campaigning, research evidencing unmet need, refining models of care and developing a solid evidence base.”

The Special School Eye Care Service includes comprehensive eye care, funded spectacles, support in wearing and a written report explaining the child or young person’s eye care abilities and needs.

The contract comes after the Government committed to a rollout of sensory checks in special schools in England in 2024.

SeeAbility is now recruiting clinicians who are interested in joining its team to deliver the extended service.

To find out more visit https://www.seeability.org/