School Nursing Service

School nurses are public health nurses who lead and deliver the Healthy Child Programme for school-aged children and young people

Our 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.  To contact your school nursing team, please call: 0345 607 8866 or e-mail: childrenshealth@suffolk.gov.uk.

If you would like to make a referral for support from the School Nursing team, please refer via our online referral portal. Please read the ‘Information for Referrers’ for details of the School Nursing Service offer before submitting a referral.

Complete the referral form

If you are unable to access or complete a referral via the online referral portal, please contact the Health Business Centre on 0345 607 8866 or email childrenshealth@suffolk.gov.uk

The local teams consist of a range of professionals including school nurses, community staff nurses and child health screening practitioners.

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.

The teams are community based and can be contacted by telephone, letter or email

Confidentiality and consent

Young people are encouraged to talk with their parents/carers about health issues that are troubling them.

Although school nurses offer a confidential service to young people, there are times when the school nurse may need to share information. Depending on their age and level of understanding, young people may be able to give their own consent to talk with a health professional.