Short film traces journey of Special Schools Eye Care Service

SeeAbility has premiered a new film which highlights the decade-long campaign to bring eye care services to children in England's special schools.

Launched to celebrate World Sight Day (9 October), the film charts the development of the Special Schools Eye Care service and the commitment to rolling out a national scheme of services.

The charity highlighted that children with a learning disability are 28 times more likely to have sight problems than other children, but half miss out on eye care and often do not have the glasses they need.

Research by SeeAbility also found that only one in 10 children in special schools had ever been for an NHS sight test at a community optometry practice and many were having to be seen in hospital instead.

In 2023, the previous government committed to extending the Special Schools Eye Care Service.

This was followed in 2024 by a commitment to rollout a new scheme, the Sensory Checks Programme, to provide free eye examinations, along with NHS dental and hearing checks, to all children in special schools in England from 2025.

The film is narrated by eye care champions and SeeAbility head of engagement, Scott Watkins, BEM, and includes testimony from parents, teachers, and eye care professionals.

Watkin commented: “I am one of the lucky ones. By chance my sight-threatening condition was spotted as a child and I was supported to get the eye care I needed. I now have a family and a job I love. Our film is a chance to celebrate that 165,000 children in special schools should now get the same chance as me, and who knows where this will lead?”

“But it is a familiar story being told – as people with learning disabilities, we often have to fight for the basic healthcare we deserve,” he said.

Lisa Donaldson, optometrist and SeeAbility’s director of eye care and vision, also appears in the film.

She said: “For SeeAbility, our campaign continues to remove barriers to eye care for all people with a learning disability, children and adults, and to make sure the national scheme in special schools rolls out this year and delivers the best outcomes.”

“There is much more to be done, but we hope the film is an inspiration to others as to the power of coming together, putting evidence in front of governments, being persistent and fighting for a more equal right to sight.”