Useful information

Learning to control the bladder and bowels is a typical part of childhood. Some children and young people may require extra support to reach full independence. There is a wealth of advice and information on this website accessible with this link

Tooth decay is the most common oral disease affecting children and young people in England. Tips on how to maintain healthy teeth are on the NHS website here

Community dental access centre

Some children and young people are eligible for support from the Community dental access centre. Please click the below link to find out more: Gloucestershire Community Dental Service | GHC NHS

Immunisation helps protect against serious diseases including influenza, measles, mumps, meningitis, polio and whooping cough. You can find out more about the UK vaccination schedule here: NHS vaccinations and when to have them – NHS

Our School Aged Immunisations service provide immunisations to all school aged children, including those who are home educated and special education schools. You can find out more about their service here: Immunisation > Glos Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust

Headlice

Head lice and nits are very common in young children and their families. They are not caused by dirty hair and are picked up by head-to-head contact. For more information about headlice and how to treat them, please visit: Head lice and nits – NHS

Threadworm

Threadworms (pinworms) are tiny worms in your poo. They’re common in children and spread easily. You can treat them without seeing a GP. For more information on Threadworm and how to treat them, please visit: Threadworms – NHS

A child or young person has special educational needs and disabilities if they have a learning difficulty and / or a disability. If you feel your child has difficulties they should be offered support by their early years or school setting, using the Graduated Pathway of Early Help and Targeted Support.

The Graduated Pathway is a whole-family approach. It encourages involvement from professionals supporting a child, the child themselves and their family. If your child needs support, it is best to speak with your early years / school Special Education Needs Coordinator (otherwise known as SENCO).

If you feel your child has unmet needs related to SEND, School Nursing may be able to help with identifying these needs and then making contact with other professionals.

Useful websites for further support/information:

• SENDIASS Gloucestershire- SENDIASS Gloucestershire | Special Education & Disability

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Assessments require a referral to the Child Autism Assessment Service (CAAAS). School Nurses cannot make a referral. For information on the full process of assessment, please use click here: SCAAS > Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust

Food refusal and ‘fussy eating’: What is normal? 

Food refusal can be normal. While it is often difficult for parents it rarely causes serious nutritional or growth problems. It is common in early childhood, but usually improves naturally with time and patience.

Selective eating 

Some children display eating behaviours that go beyond typical ‘fussy’ eating and are more persistent and severe. This can be referred as ‘selective eating’. Children with extreme selective eating patterns may consume fewer than 20 foods and often exclude entire food groups from their diet. It may cause growth and health issues. 

What to consider if your child has selective eating

What matters most is whether your child is consuming foods from each of the main food groups—carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fruits and vegetables, and fluids—even if the variety within those groups is limited.

Nutritional Gaps 

If your child consistently avoids certain food groups, consider age-appropriate micronutrient multivitamins; these can help fill nutritional gaps. Seek advice from your local pharmacist for this. 

Here are links to information on a balanced diet and healthy eating

The NHS Food Scanner App

The NHS Food Scanner app helps you quickly see how much sugar, salt, and saturated fat is in the food and drinks you buy — just by scanning the barcode! It also offers helpful tips and advice to guide your family towards healthier options.

If you don’t have the app, many food labels use an easy-to-understand traffic light system to show the levels of sugar, salt, and fat:

• Red means HIGH — try to eat these foods only occasionally.
• Amber (Orange) means MEDIUM — a moderate choice, so enjoy in moderation.
• Green means LOW — a healthier option for you and your family.

Keep an eye out for these labels to make smarter, healthier choices every day.

It’s never too early to create good routines with your children when it comes to personal hygiene. Good hygiene helps children to live a happier and healthier life. It also helps to reduce the risk of illness, build self-esteem and teach life skills.

Here are some hygiene basics to help stay healthy and clean:

Bathing/ Washing

Washing is a good skill for your child to learn to increase their independence. It can also help provide a sense of achievement. Remember, never leave your small child alone when bathing. 

Top tips for washing

Keeping clean can be a sensitive topic for children, so approach conversations gently.

Personal hygiene checklist | Health For Teens

Self-Care (Hygiene) – information and support — Teen Health 11 – 19 Service

Information on periods, starting your periods and period problems can be found here:

Periods – NHS

Starting your periods – NHS

Period problems – NHS

Information and resources for helping your child to understand puberty can be found here: Puberty – information and support for parents — Teen Health 11 – 19 Service

Information & resources for parents/carers of children with SEN (special educational needs): The Changing Adolescent Body – Information Page

In today’s fast-paced, screen-driven world, families often struggle to find time for meaningful interaction and shared experiences. Introducing physical activity to your family is a powerful way to enhance physical health and create lasting memories.

Family Physical Activity can

• Promote Better Physical Health
• Strengthen Family Bonds
• Encourage Positive Mental Health
• Improve Social Skills and Cooperation
• Reduce Screen Time
• Create Lasting Memories

How Much Physical Activity Should Children Get Each Day?

Children aged 5 and over should aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. This can include things like PE sessions at school, active play, sports, walking or biking to school, and family activities. It’s important to include activities that strengthen muscles (like climbing, gymnastics, or tug-of-war) and strengthen bones (like running, jumping, or skipping).

These links include lots more ideas on activities for children:

www.nhs.uk/healthier-families

www.wecanmove.net

www.move-more.org/what-we-do

www.hlsglos.org

Get an active, healthy lifestyle | Active Gloucestershire

Quality sleep is essential for children’s growth and development.

As School Nurses we often support families, young people and children with challenges around sleep. These websites have a lot of useful information:

• Children – The Sleep Charity
• Fall asleep faster and sleep better – Every Mind Matters – NHS
• How to deal with common sleep problems – BBC Bitesize

If your child/young person has complex health needs, you may find these resources useful:

• Helping your disabled child sleep | Disability charity Scope UK
• Sleep Advice Service – Cerebra

If you feel your child need support after having used these resources, it is easy to refer to school nurses who can offer a more tailored service to your child and family’s needs.

The School Nursing Team uses the Solihull parenting approach. This is a parenting framework which promotes the emotional health and wellbeing of children and their families.

More information on the Solihull parenting approach can be found on their website: solihullapproachparenting.com 

Children often express their internal feelings through their behaviour. Actions such as withdrawal, behaviours that challenge, or refusal to engage are not necessarily signs of being ‘naughty’—they may be a child’s way of saying something isn’t right. Recognising behaviour as communication can help caregivers respond more effectively.

Understanding your child’s feelings – Solihull Approach parenting 

Evidence tells us that children are now being pulled into a digital world from an early age. There is increasing evidence showing the impact on their development, mental health and relationships. Children need to know how to use the internet safely.

Information and helpful resources for parents and children:

• Keep Children Safe Online: Information, advice, support – Internet Matters
• https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
• Online safety | Childline
• Take It Down
• Smartphone Free Childhood | Resources for Parents

It can be really difficult for parents to know if their child is being bullied at school. Often children will not want to talk about what is happening. It can also be very upsetting for parents. This link has a useful guide on things you may notice and ways to support your child.

Other useful links:

Preventing bullying – GOV.UK

Information tool for parents and carers

Helping Children Deal with Bullying & Cyberbullying | NSPCC

Bullying and advice on coping and making it stop | Childline

Below are government guidelines to help you decide when your child should stay at home and when they can attend school:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1070910/UKHSA-should-I-keep-my_child_off_school_guidance-A3-poster.pdf

It is important that you phone the school on the first day of illness if your child will be staying at home. If you are unsure how unwell your child is, contact your GP surgery or call NHS 111 for advice..

If you have an emergency, always call 999 for immediate advice and support.

Some parents might find it difficult or embarrassing to talk to their child about sex and relationships.  School Nurses can offer sexual health advice to children and young people in Gloucestershire via our school nurse drop ins, out in the community or via a home visit if this is preferred.

• Home New | Hope House Sexual Health Services, Sexual Health & Wellbeing – Brook
• https://www.brook.org.uk/topics/relationships/
• Talking to your teen about sex and relationships | Family Lives

C Card Scheme

The school nursing service can sign young people up to gain access to the C Card scheme in Gloucestershire. The ‘c-card’ or condom card is available to anyone aged under 25 to get free condoms, in a discrete manner in many locations across Gloucestershire.

Confidentiality and sexual health for under 16s are legislated for under the Fraser Guidelines. These are a legal judgment linked to sexual health advice and treatment.  Although not a legal obligation for C Card, we do use them as part of our best practice.