School Health Nursing Service

Our School Nurse is:

Aimee Sawyer

She can be contacted on aimee.sawyer@nhs.net

Speech and Language support can be found on: Resources for Children’s Speech and Language | Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust (hacw.nhs.uk)

SCHOOL NURSE INFORMATION

The School Health Nursing Service provides an essential link between school, home and community that promotes the safeguarding and well-being of children and young people. School nurses are the only qualified public health professionals whose remit is entirely and only focused on meeting the health needs of school-aged children.

When a child reaches school age (4-5 years old) and is attending school, their care is transferred from the Health Visitor to the School Health Service. The School Health Nurse will follow up all problems/issues that are still ongoing and will continue to work closely with the child/young person and their family.

• The modern qualified School Health Nurses can lead and deliver the public health outcomes for school-aged children and reduce health inequalities
• School Health Nurses’ expertise bridges health, education and social services
• School Health Nurses are health advocates for children and young people
• Healthy children and young people are more likely to become successful adults

WHO ARE WE?

The School Health Service is delivered by teams of School Health Nurses. They are registered nurses who have undertaken specialist training in public health for children, young people and families. They are supported by Health Care Assistants who are trained to support the delivery of services under the supervision of the School Health Nurse. Together they work with local communities, families and individual children in different settings; homes, Early Help, schools and GP surgeries to provide an essential link between school, home and community that promotes the safeguarding and well-being of children and young people in the following ways:

• Home Visits
• National Child Measurement Programme
• Hearing Screening
• Health needs assessments
• Bed wetting (enuresis) clinics
• Child Protection
• Liaison and referral
• Health promotion, education and training
• Signpost to other services 

WHAT DO WE DO

1. At entry to school the School Health Nurse will review your child’s health needs as per Healthy Child Programme (5-19). As part of this process the School Health Service will offer your child in school :

• hearing screening
• a height and weight check
• an opportunity to speak to the School Health Nurse if you have any concerns

2. School Health Nurses liaise with other agencies to identify any health and development concerns and may contact you to discuss these further. The School Health                Nurse can refer to other health professionals and agencies as necessary. These may include:

• Health Visitors
• GPs
• Teachers
• Social Workers
• Early Help
• CAMHS

3. The Health Care support workers weigh and measure all reception and Year 6 children on an annual basis and each parent receives the results and a contact number, if they wish to discuss their child’s results with the School Health Nurse.

4. Certain children within school are prescribed Epipens due to having had a severe allergic reaction.  The School Health Nurses train the teaching staff on an annual basis on how to administer an Epipen when required.

5. Children in the Looked After system are seen annually to undertake a health assessment and the School Health Nurse will follow up any issues/ problems they may have.

6. School Health Nurses lead and deliver the healthy child programme to ensure a healthy start for every child. This includes promoting positive physical and mental health, supporting parents and assessing the health and development of children and young people.

7. Working with Child Protection/Children in Need. This involves attending case conferences, core groups, other relevant meetings, undertaking health assessments and working very closely with the children, young people and their families.

9. School Health Nurses are able to provide on-going support, with extra assistance from a range of local services working together with the family to deal with more complex issues over a period of time. Some examples include special educational needs, drug and alcohol misuse, child and adolescent mental health services, looked after children and young carers. School Health Nurses work with other agencies together to protect and ensure children are safe.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How can a professional refer a child or parent to the School Health Nursing service?

• Any professional who works with children can refer to the service either by a referral form or phone call.

How can a parent refer to the School Health Nursing service?

• By phone call to our school nurse on 01386 502 330 or via the staff in the school office

Where can I see the School Health Nurse?

• Our school nurse is able to meet parents in school should the need arise.