School nurses are public health nurses who work with 5 to 19 year-olds, including those educated at home. They give confidential advice and support to children and young people, and work with parents and carers in schools and other community settings.
School nurses work to improve the health and wellbeing of school aged children and young people. They can also help with conversations between health and education.
A school nurse helps by:
- Helping young people and families navigate the health system
- Empowering children and young people to make healthy lifestyle choices
- Providing a point of contact for children and young people, parents or carers, and schools that need health advice or information. This may involve assessing individual needs, offering advice and referring to other services as necessary
- Supporting children and young people with on-going or specific health needs through liaising with other health professionals and specialists.
- Keeping children and young people safe by working with their parents and carers and other professionals
Some of the areas a School Nurse could help with are:
- Healthy relationships and sexual health for older young people.
- Emotional wellbeing
- Supported referrals for alcohol, smoking and substance misuse
- Healthy lifestyles including eating, sleeping and physical activity
- Toileting
How to contact a School Nurse in Frome:
By phone: School Nurses are available to speak to Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.
You can call 0300 790 9854 and/or leave a voicemail and someone will call you back. Please be aware that this may not be on the same working day.
Chat Health Text Messaging:
This is a free service staffed by School Nurses in Somerset. Chat Health is a nationally recognised, secure and confidential text messaging for parents / carers an young people. It allows access to health care professionals easily and anonymously for advice and support.
If you are a parent of a child aged 5-19 years, send a message to 07480 635515
If you are a young person aged 11-19 years, send a message to 07480 635516
If you would like to find out more about the service please visit School Nurses (somerset.gov.uk).
