School Nursing
Our school nursing teams help children to make the best possible start to life by monitoring their health and promoting informed health choices from an early age.
School nurses work with families and children aged between 4-19 across education and health, providing a link between school, home and the community. Their aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of children.
School nurses start working with children and their families from when your child starts school up to 19 years of age supporting them through the transition from primary to secondary school.
School nurses are usually linked to a school or group of schools and are not based in schools. They work in partnership with their linked schools and other professionals to ensure your child's health needs are met. This may include signposting or referring to other services.
Your school might also have a welfare officer/first aider who is in school every day to help if your child is injured or unwell. Their role is very important but is different to that of the school nurse.
Our school nurses are experienced in supporting children with health conditions so that they can make the most out of their education.
Each school has a named school nurse who you can speak to if you have any worries.
National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)
The NCMP is a national programme led by school nursing teams where children are weighed and measured at school. This happens in reception (ages 4 and 5) and year 6 (ages 10 and 11). Your school nursing teams will weigh you child and measure their height at school. You will receive a letter about the NCMP before the school nursing team are due to come to your child’s school, if you do not want your child to be part of the NCMP the letter will explain how you can opt out. For more information about the NCMP please see here.
Hearing and Vision
If you have concerns about your child’s hearing or vision, you can contact your local school nursing team. They will be able to advise you on where you can get more advice and support. For hearing concerns, they will be able to advise if there is a local screening programme and if required, refer your child for further assessment.
Health Questionnaires
To best support your child in school you will be asked to complete a Health Questionnaire by the school nursing service. This is separate to the questionnaires the school may have asked you to complete. This will help us identify if your child has any health needs, what support we can offer or to sign post you to other services who can provide support. If you have not received a questionnaire by the end of the first half term after your child started reception or a new school please contact the school reception or your school nursing service.