Children aged 4 to 11 years
When your child starts school, their care transfers from your health visitor to one of our school nurses or public health community nurses.
If your health visitor is working closely with you, this transfer may happen later, once that work is complete.
We speak with your child’s reception class teacher, your health visitor may share relevant information with us, and we will send you a health questionnaire during your child’s first year at school to ask about their health and development.
Please return the questionnaire so we can understand whether you need any information or support.
Depending on what you tell us:
- we may contact you by phone to discuss any issues you have identified
- we may send information that could help
- we may arrange to meet you and your child in school, clinic or at home to complete a health assessment
- we will make sure you have our contact details if you want to speak to us
We can offer support with areas such as behaviour strategies, sleep, toileting, fussy eating and development.
If we feel your child needs further help, we may signpost or refer them to other services.
If neither you, your child’s teacher nor your health visitor identify any unmet health needs, we will not need to contact you. However, you can contact us at any point during your child’s school life, up to age 19 (or 25 for those with complex needs), if you have concerns in the future.
Universal assessments in the first school year
During your child’s first year at school, we also carry out:
We also begin the school‑aged vaccination programme when your child starts school.
Meeting us in school
We attend school events during term time, such as coffee mornings, giving you the chance to speak to a member of our team. Look out for information in the school newsletter, on their website or by text.
Child’s voice
Listening to children is very important to us. When we see children, we make sure their views, wishes and experiences are heard. We want every child to feel listened to about things that affect them.
Young people aged 11 to 19
When you reach secondary school age, most young people cope well, but it’s completely normal to have worries from time to time. Your school nurse is still here for you and can offer advice, support and guidance whenever you need it.
School nurses also offer confidential health assessments that look at your physical, emotional, social and developmental needs. These assessments help identify any existing health issues or pick up anything new that may need support.
If you are referred or signposted to another service, you still have the right to see your school nurse.
Secondary school and college drop‑ins
School nurses run confidential drop‑ins in Halton’s secondary schools and at the three college sites: Riverside, CRMZ and Cronton.
A drop‑in is a safe space where you can talk privately with a school nurse about anything affecting your physical or emotional health.
School nurses can offer advice on:
- healthy lifestyles
- relationships
- sexual health
- emotional health and wellbeing
Each school or college will let students know the day and time of their drop‑in session.
Halton secondary school and college drop‑in sessions
- Ormiston Bollingbroke Academy – Monday morning
- The Grange – Monday morning
- Sandymoor – Wednesday morning
- The Heath – Friday morning
- St Chads – Friday morning
- Wade Deacon – Tuesday morning
- Ormiston Chadwick Academy – Wednesday morning
- Saints Peter and Pauls – Thursday morning
- Ashley – Tuesday, one per month
- Riverside College – one per month for each campus
You can find out more from your school or college.
What confidentiality means
When a school nurse talks to you in confidence, it means they will not share what you say with anyone else, including school.
The only exception is if they are worried about your safety or someone else’s safety. If that happens, they may need to speak to another professional to help keep you safe – but they will always explain this to you first.
Your voice matters
Listening to young people is really important to us. When we see you, we make sure you are involved in everything we do and that your views are heard.
You will always have the chance to talk through any worries or concerns. Your voice also helps shape how we design and deliver our service, so it meets the needs of young people across Halton.
