Free NHS eye tests will be made available to all special schools from April next year in a £10 million government scheme.
The NHS’s Long Term Plan committed in 2019 to sight tests in all special residential schools, but following a “successful” pilot it will now be extended to all day schools.
Ministers say this will reach about 165,000 more children from April 2024.
It follows campaigns from eye health experts and charities who were concerned about a “lack of progress” for a long-term solution.
