Resources for parents
School nursing teams work with children, families, schools and other agencies to support the health and wellbeing of school-age children across Dorset. Every school in Dorset has a named school nurse, who maintains regular contact with their school to promote healthy lifestyles and offer practical advice, information and support.
The service has links with other health professionals including community paediatricians, health visitors, GPs and speech and language therapists.
School nursing teams have a public health role in working with school-age children and their families, aiming to promote health and wellbeing. We encourage healthier lifestyles and provide information, advice and support to children and their families.
We are committed to safeguarding all children and young people and follow the pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership guidance.
What school nursing provides:
- health screening and assessments
- healthy eating, weight management and physical activity advice
- emotional health & well-being support
- bed-wetting (enuresis) clinics
- 1:1 appointments with young people
- referrals and/or signposting to other services
- ChatHealth text messaging service
- Parentline 5-19 text messaging service
- NCMP growth measurements in Yr R and Yr 6
- support around safeguarding/child protection issues.
School nursing no longer delivers school age immunisations. These are now delivered by our school age immunisation service (SAIS).
When your child is ill or injured, it is very difficult to decide if/when to call your child's GP, NHS 111 or go to your nearest emergency department.
- If your child has a mild illness, you can access advice from a pharmacist. Find your local pharmacy.
- If your GP is shut or you cannot get hold of your GP and you need advice on what to do you can contact NHS 111 for advice either online (for children over five) or via telephone.
- If your child has an illness or injury that is NOT life-threatening you can access an urgent treatment centre
- The NHS has advice on when you should take your child to your nearest emergency department
- If your child is feeling unwell, it can also be difficult to know whether you should send them in to school or not. Public Health Dorset Child illness and being in school Public Health Dorset - Dorset Council and Healthier together have some useful advice on when you should/shouldn’t send your child to school.