SeeAbility wins NHS contract to extend Special School Eye Care Service across London and South East England

SeeAbility has won an NHS contract to extend its Special School Eye Care Service to tens of thousands more children in special schools across London and the south east.

The contract will see the charity’s services extended across the majority of special schools in London, as well as in large areas of South East England.

The rollout of the extended Special School Eye Care Service will begin from September 2026.

It is expected to reach almost 30,000 children in London, as well as 40,000 in the Thames Valley, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Surrey, Sussex, and Kent and Medway.

Lisa Donaldson, director of eye care and vision at SeeAbility, 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 eye care and glasses provision to optimally support every student to achieve their visual potential.”

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

In the past year, SeeAbility’s services have reached more than 3000 children in London’s special schools and colleges under a proof of concept service contract.

The 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.

The commitment was followed by a service model and contract specification, along with confirmation of dedicated funding through integrated care boards, in 2025.

SeeAbility is now recruiting clinicians who are interested in joining its team to deliver the extended Special Schools Eye Care Service. To find out more, visit SeeAbility’s website.