Boarding school pupils to be offered free NHS eye and hearing checks at school

Young people with disabilities and additional needs at boarding schools and colleges will soon be offered free NHS hearing, dental and vision checks by qualified staff at their schools.

The NHS sensory checks have been piloted by the government in 2022 and 2023 and will be rolled out to education settings across England from next year, allowing tests to be carried out “in a comfortable and familiar environment » for children.

Children with autism and those living with learning disabilities are more likely to experience hearing, vision and dental problems than their peers.

The new program is expected to reach approximately 18,000 students.

All staff carrying out sensory checks will be suitably qualified and trained.

NHS England’s national director for learning disabilities and autism, Tom Cahill, said the new checks would ensure any problems were identified quickly.

“Traditional services can sometimes struggle to meet the needs of autistic children and young people, or those with profound learning disabilities, which is why these new sensory checks in special boarding schools will provide the support they need. need,” he said.

“Having specialist services that take into account an individual’s reasonable adaptations, with support from people who know them well and provided by properly trained staff, will help ensure they can access sensory controls that other children and young people receive regularly. »

Eye checks will be carried out every year and at least one annual in-person dental check-up will be offered, as well as health advice and prevention visits.

Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said the reviews would help tackle health inequalities and provide access to support more quickly.

“I am pleased that we can support vital sensory checks for all students in special education settings, in a comfortable and familiar environment for them,” he said.

“These checks will help identify health problems in around 18,000 children and young people more quickly.”