Your questions, answered

Home Opticians provides NHS-commissioned sight tests and glasses in special schools across Greater Manchester. Our specialist optometrists come to your child's school to carry out an eye test and provide glasses when they are needed.

Yes. The eye test is free, and so are any glasses your child needs. If glasses are lost or broken, we can arrange a replacement through the service.

Children with special educational needs and disabilities are far more likely to have a problem with their vision than other children. It often goes unnoticed, because a child may not be able to tell us what they can or cannot see. Good vision supports learning, communication, behaviour and everyday life. The test also checks the health of the eyes.

One of our optometrists. They are specialists in eye care for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and they are used to working with children who communicate in many different ways.

No. Many children do not need to speak, read or answer anything. We can test a child's eyes without any communication at all, by shining a light into the eyes. Other children enjoy looking at pictures, shapes or patterns. We choose whatever suits your child best.

That is completely fine, and something we are very used to. We go at your child's pace, take breaks and try a different approach when we need to. A child who needs more time gets it, and we can come back another day. We never force a test.

Yes, please do. You know your child best. Anything that helps us, such as how they communicate, what helps them feel calm or whether they have worn glasses before, is really valuable. Tell your child's school, or contact us directly.

After the eye test, we write a clear report with no jargon. You can check for your child's report and download it yourself at any time, using the same link your school sent you for consent. The report is also uploaded to our secure portal so school can download it. If you would rather it goes to you only, you can tick that when you give consent, or contact us, and school will not see it. If you'd rather we send you a copy, just let school know or contact us. With your permission, we can also share it with your child's GP, hospital eye clinic or orthoptist, paediatrician, or Qualified Teacher of Visual Impairment. You choose who when you give consent.

We will explain what we have found to you and to school, and refer your child to the right NHS service where needed, such as the hospital eye service.

We arrange the glasses, fit them at school and check they are comfortable. Adjustments and repairs are part of the service, so nothing falls through the gaps.

Please tell school or contact us and we will arrange a repair or replacement through the service.

Some children take to glasses straight away. Others need a little time. These things often help:

• Build up slowly. Start with short periods and gradually wear them for longer.
• Pick a calm, enjoyable moment, such as looking at a favourite book, video or toy.
• Praise and reward your child for wearing them.
• Keep a routine, such as putting them on at the same point each day.
• Keep them clean, and check they still fit comfortably.

If your child is finding it hard, please tell us. A small adjustment to the fit often makes a big difference.

Every child is offered an eye test at least once a year, and more often when needed.

Yes, and please carry on with those appointments. Orthoptists and hospital eye clinics look after specific eye conditions, often for children who have already been referred. Our service is different: we provide a full NHS eye test and glasses in school. The two work side by side.

Home Opticians provides NHS-commissioned sight tests in special educational settings across Greater Manchester. Not sure whether your child's school is included? Please ask school or contact us.

It is an NHS-commissioned service that brings eye tests and glasses into special schools. Home Opticians provides it across Greater Manchester, under contract with NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, selected through a formal NHS competitive process. Every pupil is offered an eye test at least once a year, and more often when needed.

No. The service is free to schools and families, including the eye test and glasses.

Get in touch and we will arrange to visit your school to talk it through. We will then set your school up on our secure portal and agree visit dates that work around your timetable.

A quiet room, ideally one your pupils already know, and a member of staff who knows the pupils well to support them. We bring everything else we need.

We design our service to fit around the school day and keep disruption to a minimum. Pupils are seen individually and at their own pace, so nobody is rushed.

Before each visit, we gather information about how each pupil communicates and what helps them. Teaching assistants, carers and parents know pupils best, so we build our appointments around what they tell us. We work with each pupil's own way of communicating.

Yes. We can test a pupil's eyes without any communication at all, by shining a light into the eyes. We also use picture-based and other gentle methods, and we choose whatever suits each pupil best.

A clear, jargon-free report for each pupil, uploaded to our secure portal for you to download, unless a parent has asked that their child's report goes to them only. In that case school will see that the pupil was tested, but not the report. The reports are written to be useful to everyone who supports the pupil. Parents and carers receive a copy too.

Orthoptists play a valuable role in assessing and managing specific conditions, such as problems with eye movement and how the eyes work together, often for pupils already under the hospital eye service. Our service is different: it provides a full NHS eye test and glasses in school. The two complement each other, and your orthoptist's visits and screening can continue as they are.

We arrange the glasses, fit them at school, and look after adjustments, repairs and follow up. We manage the whole journey, so it does not fall to school or families to organise.

Let us know and we will arrange a repair or replacement through the service.

Small things make a big difference:

• Build up wearing time gradually, starting with short periods.
• Make glasses part of the daily routine, for example putting them on at the same point each day.
• Praise and reward pupils for wearing them.
• Keep glasses in a named case when they are not being worn.
• Check that they are clean and comfortable, and tell us if a pupil keeps taking them off. A small adjustment often solves it.

A pupil who needs a break or more time can have it, and we can come back another day. When a pupil is off on the day of the visit, speak to us about arranging another time.

Call 0161 883 4040 or email specialschools@homeopticians.co.uk and our team will be happy to help.