SEN children secure ‘crucial’ eye care support

The government and NHS England announced that children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities will be offered NHS funded sight tests.

These will be offered in day or residential special schools and colleges in England, in addition to hearing and dental checks in residential schools, starting in 2025.

Adam Sampson, chief executive at the Association of Optometrists, said: ‘Children with SEN 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 tests 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.’