School nurses are registered nurses who have completed additional specialist training in school nursing.
Our School Nursing teams are made up of school nurses, registered nurses, nursery nurses and clinical health assistants.
The School Nursing team works across Surrey to promote physical health and emotional wellbeing in schools and in the community. This includes issues such as sexual health, illnesses, healthy eating, exam stress and bullying.
Watch our video with school nurse Charlene to find out how school nurses support young people.
School nurses support young people by:
Being available to young people, parents, carers and teaching staff to address any concerns about a child’s health
Providing health advice to help children and young people make the most of their education
Completing health reviews with children starting primary and secondary school
Holding health drop-ins in secondary schools offering young people an opportunity to discuss health issues confidentially
Supporting young people who have specific medical needs and providing relevant training for staff to help manage these needs
Delivering classroom-based health education
Supporting immunisation programmes in school
Leading community clinics to help children with night-time wetting
Working with school-aged children in the community who have been excluded or where families have chosen to educate at home.
Chat HealthAcross Surrey, we offer a text support service called Chat Health, a confidential school nurse messaging service for young people aged 11-19. Young people can contact their school nurse in confidence by texting 07507 329 951.
Young people can also call our Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line to get in touch with a school nurse.
All of the issues discussed are confidential unless a child's safety, or that of others, is at risk. Our school nurses will always encourage young people to discuss issues with their parents or guardians.
Surrey students aged 11 to 14 can visit the Safe Space Health website. The website provides physical, emotional and wellbeing health information in an accessible, fun and interactive way.
Watch the video about Safe Space Health
Our school nurses work in partnership with parents and schools to provide PSHE (personal, social and health education) to primary and secondary school children.
In primary school, we cover topics such as personal hygiene, what to expect in puberty and healthy eating.
In secondary school, we cover topics such as positive relationships, sexual health, emotional resilience and promoting healthly lifestyle choices.
This school-based programme is part of the National Curriculum.
Our school nursing team provides health reviews in primary school for your child (in state schools) as part of the National Child Measurement Programme.
Our school nursing teams across Surrey promote physical health and emotional wellbeing in schools and in the community. This includes issues such as sexual health, illnesses, healthy eating, exam stress and bullying.
At secondary schools school nurses:
Provide health advice to help young people make the most of their education
Hold health drop-ins offering young people an opportunity to discuss health issues confidentially
Deliver classroom-based health education
Support immunisation programmes in school
Chat Health
We offer a text service called ChatHealth, a confidential school nurse messaging service for students at school. Young people can contact their school nurse in confidence by text. The Chat Health text number is: 07507 329 951.
Drop-ins
Some school nurses offer drop-in sessions for young people to talk about anything that may be worrying them.
All of the issues discussed are confidential unless a child's safety, or that of others, is at risk. Our school nurses will always encourage young people to discuss issues with their parents or guardians.
Safe Space Health website
We also offer a health and wellbeing website www.safespacehealth.uk for Surrey students aged 11 to 14.
The website provides physical, emotional and wellbeing health promotion information in an accessible, fun and interactive way that appeals to young people.
The www.safespacehealth.uk website gives young people accurate and reliable health information in a way that they can relate to, and includes sections on:
• healthy lifestyle choices
• growing up
• emotional health
• keeping safe
• it’s ok to be different
• and relationships.
Be Your Best is a free service for families with children aged 0-12 who are struggling with their weight.
The programme is being delivered in partnership with Active Surrey and the University of Surrey Dietetics Department.
Families can expect to receive support on a whole host of lifestyle topics from portion sizes and food labels to being a good role model and overcoming barriers.
Find out more on the Be Your Best website.
Spelthorne team tel 01784 883 695
Elmbridge team tel 020 8979 6464
Epsom, Ewell and Banstead team tel 01372 730 040
Mole Valley team tel 01372 384 300
Redhill and Tandridge team tel 01883 340922
Waverley team tel 01483 362 631
Guildford team tel 01483 362 629
Woking team tel 01883 340 922
Surrey Heath team tel 01276 21799
Runnymede team tel 01483 362 618
Parents and carers can also contact the School Nursing team through our Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line.