School Nurses are all qualified nurses, often with additional specialist qualifications in Public Health.  Each School has a named school nurse who is the key health care worker in school.  School nurses work with children from four years nine months up to 16 years of age.

The School Nursing Team provides services for children, young people and their families within their home, their schools and in community settings.

The school nurse is the link to the School Health Team.  Parents, carers, and young people can use the School Nursing Service by contacting the school or calling the number at bottom of the page.

Check this NHS website if you are unsure whether to keep your child off school:

http://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/parents-and-carers/should-your-child-go-school-today/

What does the School Nursing Team provide?

In Primary School 

Every child is offered a school entrance health assessment, usually in the term of their 5th birthday.  Children receive an assessment of their height and weight in Year 6 as part of the National Child Measurement Programme.

Health assessments in primary education can be carried out at any age with parental consent.  These include:

• Growth monitoring
• Vision screening
• Hearing tests

• Health promotion

In Secondary School

In secondary education young people are encouraging to assess their own health needs and emotional wellbeing.  Other services include:

• Drop in services
• Sexual health clinics
• Health promotion activities
• HPV Immunisation programme

Children educated at home

The school nursing service is also available to families who have chosen to educate their children at home. Your named school nurse will contact you to arrange an appointment at a time and venue convenient to you and your child. The nurses also hold group sessions which include healthy eating, dental hygiene, puberty sexual health and support for the transition to adult services. These sessions are held at venues across the city. If your child would like to participate please contact the school nurse for details.

The School Health Team also provides preventative programmes in schools which aim to improve future health and wellbeing.  This may include issues such as obesity, sexual health, alcohol, smoking, and substance misus.

The School Health Team supports and signposts to other appropriate services including:

• Health Visiting
• Community Nursery Nurses
• Community Paediatricians 

The School Health Team work closely with:

• Education and safeguarding teams
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
• Contraception and Sexual Health Services
• GPs
• Teachers
• Social Care
• Other health services, e.g. Speech and Language, hearing and vision clinics
• Children Continence Service

You can contact the School Nursing Team at:

Pickles Coppice
65 Windermere Avenue
Millbrook
Southampton
SO16 9QX

Tel: 02380 772040

If you have concerns about a child please contact Children’s Social Care on: 023 8083 3336 or go to:   http://www.southampton.gov.uk/living/scchildren/chilpro/default.aspx