Putting the UK Vision Strategy into action for children
and young people
Throughout this document, we have used the following abbreviations: CYP
(children and young people) and CYPF (children, young people and their
families).
These guidelines are intended for those responsible for commissioning and
providing services for children and young people and their families. They will
assist with the interpretation and implementation of the UK Vision Strategy
across health, education and social care. They should be read in conjunction
with the UK Vision Strategy 2013-2018, the framework of outcomes entitled
‘Seeing it My Way’, and the attached Pathway for Children and Young
People.
Strategy Outcome 1
Everyone in the UK looks after their eyes and their sight
In the next five years, we will work to:
 raise awareness and understanding of eye health particularly
focusing on people most at risk of eye disease
 encourage every individual to develop personal responsibility for
their eye health and sight
 raise awareness of eye health and the impact of sight loss among
health and social care practitioners and ensure the early detection of
sight loss and prevention where possible.
Priority actions
1.1 To make the eye health of children and young people a public health
priority, supported by targeted, evidence based campaigns.
1.2 To increase public understanding of children’s and young people’s eye
health through education and campaigns and to promote the uptake of
routine sight tests. To ensure that genetic services (including counseling and,
where indicated, genetic testing) are offered to all those at risk of inherited
eye disease.
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1.3 To increase the understanding of children’s and young people’s eye
health among health and social care and education practitioners, through
training and development programmes.
1.4 To identify, assess and treat potential causes of vision impairment
amongst CYP through the implementation of the National Screening
Committee programmes and other strategies.
1.5 To identify CYP with health conditions associated with an elevated risk of
sight loss (for example, certain physical disabilities, learning disabilities
and/or complex needs) and provide appropriate screening and treatment. To
increase awareness of the links between those conditions and vision
impairment among healthcare practitioners, including eye health, social care
and education practitioners.
1.6 To promote investment in research to reduce sight loss in CYP and
establish an evidence base for effective rehabilitation and/or habilitation and
support.
Strategy Outcome 2
Everyone with an eye condition receives timely treatment and, if
permanent sight loss occurs, early and appropriate services and
support are available and accessible to all.
In the next five years, we will work to:
 improve the co-ordination, integration, reach and effectiveness of eye
health and eye care services.
 ensure that, when sight loss occurs, emotional support, habilitation
and/or rehabilitation will be provided in a timely fashion, enabling
people to regain or retain their independence.
Priority actions
2.1 To improve access to eye health treatments and vision impairment
services for all CYP, especially those who are already experiencing sight
loss, or those known to be at higher risk (for example, those with certain
physical disabilities, learning disabilities and/or complex needs).
2.2 To involve CYP and the professionals who work with them in the
development, design and delivery of services to ensure that these meet
identified needs.
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2.3 To support the commissioning of evidence-based, integrated eye care
and sight loss services. These should enable CYPF to make best use of
community and hospital resources including low vision services. There should
be timely access to a paediatric ophthalmologist for all children presenting
with vision impairment and for those with a high risk of sight loss (for
example, those with certain physical disabilities, learning disabilities and/or
complex needs).
2.4 Services should provide seamless pathways through health, social care,
education and voluntary sector through to employment, with a broad range of
support provision available at all times. CYP with additional disabilities or
complex needs (and their families) may require additional help in order to coordinate services and the provision of support.
2.5 To provide reliable, accessible and relevant information in a range of
formats and languages on eye conditions, eye care, sight loss services,
support networks and legal entitlements, so that CYPF can understand their
options, select services and make informed decisions.
2.6 To make emotional support an integrated part of all eye care and sight
loss services for all CYPF with counseling and peer support available as soon
as a potential problem is identified.
A suitably trained and qualified professional should be available in all
paediatric eye centres/clinics to offer practical and emotional support, advice
and information to CYP with vision impairment and their families.
2.7 To ensure that all habilitation training and support is led by a qualified
habilitation specialist. Habilitation services should cover mobility and other
skills needed to promote independence in a variety of settings at school,
home and in the community.
2.8 To ensure that all assessments consider the impact of eye conditions on
the physical and emotional wellbeing of CYP and that they and their families
are treated as equal partners in the assessment process.
2.9 To increase understanding of the causes and likely impact of sight loss on
CYPF among health and social care, education and employment practitioners
who routinely come into contact with CYP.
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Strategy Outcome 3
A society in which people with sight loss can fully participate
In the next five years, we will work to:
 improve attitudes, awareness and actions within education,
employment and other services
 ensure that children and young people with vision impairment can
take their place in society
 achieve improved compliance with equality legislation.
Priority actions
3.1 To increase awareness of rights and services among all individuals with
sight loss, and their families, parents and carers, to improve uptake of
services and increase confidence in seeking equal entitlement.
3.2 To support equality of access to education and vocational training,
including access to all materials for people of all ages with vision impairment.
CYP should be assured full access to the academic and habilitation (mobility
and independence skills) curricula and equality of opportunity. CYP should
have the opportunity to build their confidence in their abilities through full
participation, including social activities, and maximise their independence
through their pre-school and school years. Vision impaired CYP with
additional or complex disabilities should receive the best possible education
and care in the environment that is best suited to their needs.
3.3 To establish or maintain a clear and smooth transition pathway from
children and young people’s services into adult services, thus ensuring young
people are enabled to fulfill their potential and build their confidence; and that
rights to benefits and support are not lost during the transition. This applies
equally to health services and social care services. Attention should be paid
to other periods of transition such as between primary and secondary
education.
3.4 To work in partnership with employers to remove barriers to recruitment
and employment of young people with sight loss. Employers and the general
public should be made aware of the support available from Access to Work
and similar schemes.
3.5 To ensure that young people acquire employment related social and
independence skills and receive advice for planning their career pathways.
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3.6 To ensure CYPF obtain benefits to which they are entitled in order to
achieve equality of opportunity, independence and wellbeing. There should
be clear, accessible guidance on how to apply for benefits backed up by
transparent decision making procedures.
3.7 To ensure providers of public services produce information that is
accessible to CYP with sight loss, and where appropriate, in the formats of
their choice.
3.8 To enable CYP with vision impairment to be fully informed about new
technologies and products that promote independence. To ensure that formal
and informal opportunities are available for learning how to use new
applications and devices. To encourage manufacturers to design new
products for mass markets that are fully accessible.
3.9 To ensure social, cultural, sports and leisure activities are fully inclusive to
CYP with sight loss including those with additional physical or learning
disabilities and/or complex needs.
3.10 To enable CYP with sight loss to move around freely, safely and
independently by implementing the principles of inclusive design, including
clear pavements, safe crossings and the use of bold and contrasting signage.
3.11 To support transport providers in the delivery of accessible "end to end
journeys", for example appropriate transport interchanges and booking and
ticketing facilities, as well as the provision of real time information technology,
such as audio/visual information systems on buses.
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