Improving outcomes for children and young people - Investing in School Nursing

School nurses are well placed to improve outcomes for children and young people's mental health and wellibeing. As trained public health nurses (specialist community public health nurse SCPHN) their focus is improving the health and wellbeing outcomes and contributing to addressing health inequalities. A key part of their role is to search for and identify health needs working at a population level. They assess and offer evidence driven interventions. They are the only health professional working with school aged children and young people, providing universal health support. They lead the Healthy Child Programme 5-19. There is a clear evidence based to support their role to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people - School-aged years high impact area 1: Supporting resilience and wellbeing - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). There are many examples of practice across the country which showcase the pathways they have in place to support children and young people. Learning to manage worries - Sefton Council | Local Government Association, Walk and talk - Northamptonshire | Local Government Association, and School nursing: Looking after the health and wellbeing of school children | Local Government Association.

Sadly, years of cuts to the public health grant has resulted in a significant variation in delivery of school nursing services across the country.  Access to school nursing services has become a postcode lottery. Securing proper funding and investment in the school nursing workforce will ensure that all children and young people have access to a school nurse which will contribute to improving outcomes.