The Community School Nurse visits the school regularly. We have been asked by the School Nursing Service to provide the following information which explains the role of the School Nurse and what the Nurse can provide for you and your child.

What do School Nurses do?

School Nurses are registered nurses who have professional experience in supporting the health needs of all school aged children. They work as part of a skilled, mixed team of specialist practitioners, school staff nurses, nursery nurses and support workers. They continue the work of the Health Visitor in promoting good health and prevention of illness in the school aged population. This is in line with the Department of Health ‘Healthy Child Programme’.

The school nursing team works with parents, carers, children and young people of school age providing advice and support on areas such as:

• Parenting
• Children with special needs and complex health needs
• Sleep/behaviour
• Allergies and asthma
• Development
• Eating problems
• Alcohol, drugs and smoking
• Emotional and mental health issuesSexual health and relationships

What else can your School Nurse team offer?

• National Child Measurement Programme
• PSHE in schoolsEnuresis clinics
• Supporting health needs in school
• Safeguarding
• Healthy weight programme
• Confidential health advice
• Home visits
• Referral to other specialists

When to expect to see your School Nurse team?

Your school nurse will contact you when your child starts in:

• Year 7 – we will ask you to fill in a health questionnaire, much the same as we did when your child started Primary School
• Year 10 – you and your child will be sent a health questionnaire

In addition:

• A member of the School Nursing team may meet with you at the school’s parent/teacher afternoons and evenings
• Drop-Ins are offered in all High Schools for young people to access their School Nurse

You can contact us at any time to discuss your child or young person’s health needs.

Other contacts may occur according to individual need.

Who do we work with?

We often work with other agencies in the best interests of families, including, education staff, GPs, health visitors, speech therapists, hospital staff, therapists and both children and adult social services.

We may share confidential information with these agencies with your consent. We will only share information without permission when we have a duty of care due to serious concerns about the welfare or safety of a child or young person.

Healthy Child Program

Your Community

All communities offer a range of services for children and families. Parents and carers are welcome to access the school nurse at school, children’s centres and other community locations or the school nurse may visit your family at home.

Universal Services

The school nursing team provides the Healthy Child Programme to promote healthy lifestyles for children, young people and their families. They offer support through a variety of public health initiatives, both in school and the local community.

Universal Plus

The school nursing team offers a swift response to specific health concerns, long term issues and additional health needs. They provide care plans for children in schools who have conditions such as diabetes, allergies, epilepsy and other health needs. The team also ensures that school staff have sufficient training to safely support your child or young person in school.

Universal Partnership Plus

School nurses support children, families and young people with complex physical and emotional health needs over a period of time in collaboration with other services, including specialist health services, the local authority, Youth Justice System and voluntary organisations.