School Nursing

School Nurses are qualified nurses who have additional training and/or experience in the health needs of children of school age. They work in teams that include nurses and other community and education workers.

Since each school has links with a School Nursing Team, drop-in sessions that promote health, offer advice and support to parents, pupils and teachers may be available.

To help them reach as many children as possible the team also holds sessions out of school hours and in other settings, for example at the Lads and Girls Club or in the homes of children who, for whatever reason, are not currently attending school.

This group of professionals is committed to the health improvement of children and young people. They each recognise that the school nursing service has special responsibility for:

• Promoting healthy lifestyles and healthy schools
• Child and adolescent mental health
• The chronic and complex health care needs in children and young people
• Vulnerable children and young people

School Nurse Teams work with a number of other professionals both in school and in other parts of the health service, including GPs, Health Visitors, Speech Therapists, Psychologists, Dieticians, Dentists, Podiatrists (foot health), Physiotherapists and Orthoptists.

School Health Surveillance

On school entry, school nurses will review all children's health records to ensure that the youngsters:

• Have received an appropriate programme of preventative health care and will deal with any omissions, including immunisations and vision screening
• Have access to primary health care (by being registered with a GP for example)
• Are receiving appropriate treatment for any physical, developmental or emotional problems that have been previously identified.

It is important that all children have their height and weight checked at school entry, and have a hearing test in Year 1.

Immunisations are also given during school years. These are:

• BCG against tuberculosis (preceded by the Heaf test), given in Year 9.
• A booster immunisation against tetanus and polio, together with a low-dose booster against diphtheria, given at school leaving age.