School Health Nurses

Important information:

From 1 April 2011 Community Health Oxfordshire (CHO) integrates with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Information regarding School Health Nurses has now moved across to Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s website and can be found here.

This page will be removed from NHS Oxfordshire’s website on 3 May 2011. Therefore please ensure that any bookmarks you have made to this page are updated.

Your School Health Nurse

Your school health nurse is a qualified nurse with further specialist training in the health needs of school age children. We offer help and information on a range of health related issue such as diet and healthy eating, bullying, stopping smoking, sexual health and contraception, special needs and emotional or behavioural problems.

We also run drop-in clinics and work with other professionals in ‘Bodyzone’ teams. We are responsible for delivering immunisation programmes in schools. We also work alongside teachers in the classroom and contribute to the schools’ Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) and Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) programmes. We offer training and support to school staff so that they can help children and young people who may need medication during the school day.

Click here for diagrammatic information

What do School Health Nurses do?

We offer advice, care and treatment to individuals and groups of children and young people and the adults who care for them. This work is focused on the child and is part of Oxfordshire’s Children and Young Peoples Plan. Our role is to:

Safeguard  health by:

  • Assessing individual needs and offering health advice
  •  Fulfilling a child protection role

Provide access by:

  • Working with teachers
  • Working in ‘Bodyzones’ and drop-ins

Promote public health by:

  • Classroom based teaching
  • Immunisations
  • Healthy Schools Programme
  • Special initiatives such as School Healthy Road Shows, National No Smoking Day

Support medical needs by:

  • Training school staff in use of medications
  • Supporting parents
  • Supporting school first-aiders

How do I find a School Health Nurse?

Anyone can refer to the School Nursing Service. Parents and young people can phone us or ask to meet us (in school or home); other professionals are encouraged to use the SHN referral form (which can be emailed to the referrer).

Your local school will be able to give you the name and contact details of your local school health nurse.

Confidential school health advice can be obtained during term time from the school health nurses offices which are based in health centres and community hospitals.

Please leave a message and your contact details and the school health nurses will contact you.

  • BANBURY AREA: 01295 819133
  • WITNEY AREA: 01993 209468
  • ABINGDON AREA: 01235 205739
  • WALLINGFORD: 01491 208600
  • OXFORD: 01865 265079
  • BICESTER: 01869 324496