Children with special educational needs and disabilities are far more likely to have an undetected visual problem than their peers. Vision difficulties can affect a child’s learning, behaviour, communication, and development, and yet they often go unnoticed, sometimes because a child cannot describe what they see, and sometimes because previous attempts at testing simply weren’t set up to succeed.
We believe every child can have their vision assessed. It just takes the right environment, the right expertise, and the right amount of patience.
We deliver every sight test within the child's own special educational setting. A familiar room, familiar staff, and a predictable routine make an enormous difference to how well a child engages, and to the quality of the clinical result.
No two children are the same. We tailor every appointment to the child in front of us, adjusting our pace, our approach, and our environment to suit their needs. Where a child needs a break, or needs us to return another day, that is exactly what we do.
Our clinicians are experienced across the full range of assessment techniques used in SEND eye care, including:
• Preferential looking assessments for pre verbal and non verbal children
• Objective testing methods that require no verbal response
• Picture and symbol based tests for children with emerging communication
• Non contact methods for children who cannot tolerate conventional approaches
• Behavioural observation and functional vision assessment for children with the most complex needs
Teaching assistants, carers, and parents are active partners in every assessment. Their insight into how a child communicates and responds is invaluable, and we build our appointments around it.
We work alongside Makaton, symbol systems, and each child's individual method of communication, and we gather detailed information before every visit so we arrive fully prepared.
After every sight test, we provide a clear, jargon free report for the school, the family, and where appropriate the child’s GP. Our reports are written to be genuinely useful to everyone who supports the child.
Where glasses are prescribed, our reports include a photograph of the child’s spectacles, making it far easier for busy school staff and families to identify and keep track of them. It’s a simple idea that makes a real difference to whether a child actually wears the glasses they need.
We manage the whole journey, from the first assessment through to dispensing, fitting, repairs, and follow up, so nothing falls through the gaps.
Home Opticians is proud to be the appointed NHS provider of eye testing in special educational settings across Greater Manchester, selected through a formal NHS competitive process. We work in close partnership with special educational settings and the professionals who support them. We understand the pressures schools face, and we design our service to fit around the school day, minimise disruption, and maximise the number of children we can help.
If you are a school, a SENCO, or a commissioner interested in our specialist SEND eye care service, we would welcome the conversation.
