School nurses are public health nurses who lead and deliver the Healthy Child Programme for school-aged children and young people.
The service covers the whole of Suffolk and works in partnership with school-aged children, young people, and their families to address health needs and to promote health and wellbeing with a focus on early help and support.
Each primary and secondary school has a named school nurse who is supported by their team to promote health and emotional wellbeing in schools and in the community by:
- Being available to address, in confidence, any concerns about a child or young person’s health
- Providing health advice to help children and young people to make positive health choices
- Assessing children starting primary school after their care is transferred from the health visitor
- Offering young people an opportunity to discuss health issues confidentially at school based or community based 'drop-ins'
- Supporting young people who have medical needs and providing training for education staff to help manage these needs, as required
- Delivering classroom-based health education
- Working with and referring to other professionals
- Working with other agencies to safeguard and protect young people
- Delivering the national child measurement programme
- Providing health information, advice, and support
For more information, please visit the Suffolk County Council website.