SeeAbility schools service rolled out

In the last year, the charity has reached more than 3,000 children in 57 London schools and colleges

More than 70,000 vulnerable children will benefit from eyecare after disability charity SeeAbility was awarded an NHS contract to work with special schools in London and the South East of England.

The roll out of the charity’s service from September could reach almost 30,000 children across the capital alone. These young people are 28 times more likely to have a sight problem but many have never had an eye test before, states the charity.

Some 40,000 children could benefit when the service is introduced in Thames Valley, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Medway, says SeeAbility, has been delivering eyecare in London special schools for more than a decade in pilot schemes as part of its campaign for the NHS to provide eyecare in all special schools.

In the last year, the charity has reached more than 3,000 children in 57 London schools and colleges. The model gives comprehensive eyecare, free spectacles, support to wear them and a written report explaining their visual abilities and needs.

Data from SeeAbility’s project has shown that tens of thousands of children with learning disabilities in special schools across the country have been missing out on the vision care they need. More than four in 10 pupils had no history of any eyecare, and yet half of the children had a problem with their eyes or vision. At least a third needed spectacles, and many were “under hospital eyecare but struggling to attend routine appointments”.

In 2023, the government pledged to roll out vision care to special schools in England. By 2025, a service model, contract specification and dedicated funding had been issued to enable NHS Integrated Care Boards to begin commissioning. Each school must opt into the service individually by contacting SeeAbility.

Lisa Donaldson, SeeAbility’s director of eyecare and vision, said: “We are absolutely delighted that most special schools in London and much of the South East will now be able to benefit from SeeAbility’s eyecare and glasses provision to optimally support every student to achieve their visual potential. This development follows over a decade of campaigning, research evidencing unmet need, refining models of care and developing a solid evidence base.

“No child should have to experience avoidable or undiagnosed visual impairment. With the appropriate adjustments and setting, it is possible for everyone to access eyecare. That includes young people with complex needs and disabilities and those who are not able to express themselves verbally. We can get so much information, and can prescribe glasses if needed, just from shining a light into someone’s eyes.”

ABDO clinical and policy director, Max Halford, said: “ABDO welcomes the news that SeeAbility has secured a major NHS contract to expand the Special School Eye Care Service across most of London and large parts of South East England from September 2026. This is an important step for children and young people with learning disabilities or autism in these areas, who can face real barriers in accessing routine eyecare. Many are more likely to have sight problems, but may not always receive the checks, support or spectacles they need. Taking eyecare into special schools helps make the service more accessible, familiar and practical for children, families and staff.”

The service will include sight testing and the dispensing of spectacles in special educational settings, building on earlier NHS England work which showed the value of providing care directly in schools.

“For these children, the dispensing element of the service is particularly important,” Max continued. “Dispensing opticians are the key specialists in this area, making sure children receive spectacles that are suitable, comfortable, well-fitted and properly supported over time.

“The importance of maximising visual outcomes for these patients cannot be underestimated. In a special-school setting, correct fitting, adjustment, repair and ongoing advice are not simply nice-to-have extras – they are essential to making the service work well. That is why we are so pleased to hear that SeeAbility and its team, including some brilliant dispensing opticians, have been successful in this bid.

“The Special School Service has been through challenging times after a promising start some years ago – and ABDO looks forward to now seeing the programme develop and will continue to support the developments and commissioning of services that improve access, reduce inequalities and make proper use of the skills of the regulated optical workforce,” Max added.

SeeAbility wants to hear from clinicians who are interested in joining the eyecare team. The charity would also welcome support from professionals working in hospital eye departments, community paediatrics, habilitation or visual impairment services. For more information, see here