School Health Service:
Throughout your child’s years at primary and secondary school, a team of specialist Health Service and Education Department staff will be seeing him or her from time to time to make sure that he or she benefits as much as possible from all that school has to offer, and to help prepare him or her for life after leaving school. The School Health Service is part of the Community Child Health Service and has direct links with those who carry out health checks on children before they start school.
Many different services are provided. The staff involved make every effort to work closely with parents and with others who are caring for your child, both at school and in other branches of the Health Service. Some of the services, e.g. testing for vision, hearing or speech, are provided to all children on a routine basis to discover which children may need further tests or treatment. Parents are not notified of these screening tests and any parent who does not want a child to be included should notify the school at the beginning of the session. Naturally, if treatment is thought to be required, the child?s parents will be informed and consent requested.
Some of the staff concerned and the parts they play are as follows:
The school nurse carries out regular inspections of groups of children, gives advice on health and hygiene, tests eyesight from time to time and works with the school doctor. The attention of the doctor is drawn to any possible problems. Parents and the family doctor are informed if any further action is considered necessary.
The school nurse may be helped by a health assistant. The school nurse also acts as an important link between home and school.
Some of the staff concerned and the parts they play are as follows:
The school nurse carries out regular inspections of groups of children, gives advice on health and hygiene, tests eyesight from time to time and works with the school doctor. The attention of the doctor is drawn to any possible problems. Parents and the family doctor are informed if any further action is considered necessary.
The school nurse may be helped by a health assistant. The school nurse also acts as an important link between home and school.
In secondary schools the school doctor may consider whether any special information should be provided for the Careers Advisory Service.
The school doctor will be pleased to see you and your child at any time if you are concerned about his or her health or general progress at school.
With your consent, the school doctor also carried out immunisations to protect against various diseases:
Age 4 - 5: immunisations against diptheria, tetanus, polio and MMR
(Measles, Mumps, Rubella), if these have not before given
before starting school.
Age 12 - 14: testing for resistance to tuberculosis and immunisations (BCG)
where required. Girls only ? testing for resistance to Rubella,
(German Measles), and immunisations if necessary.
Age 14 - 15: booster immunisation against tetanus and polio.
If you prefer, you may ask your family doctor to immunise your child.
The audiometric team checks children?s hearing on a number of occasions before the age of 11/14 years. The school doctor will be told if your child seems to have a hearing problem. The doctor will examine the child and let your own doctor know the result.
The speech therapist can provide assessment and, if necessary, treatment if you, a teacher or the school doctor feels that your child may have a speech or language problem.
We hope that the School Health Service can, together with yourselves, contribute to your child?s overall well-being and development. Please do not hesitate to arrange through the Head Teacher to see the school doctor, school nurse or the health visitor if you want any information.
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