The role of the school nurse in the UK: where are we now?

Abstract

In the UK, school nurses play a crucial role in promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people, giving them the best start in life and supporting them to sustain optimal health. They have a vital and unique link between education settings, home and the community. Their key role is within the public health arena, they are an important part of the primary health care team and a key link for acute and community paediatric teams and therapies. The onset of school nursing came in the Victorian era with a focus on improving the health of children living in poverty, this coincided with a report from the British army at the time which highlighted that young men joining the service were unfit for purpose. Now, in the 21^st century, we are faced with widening health inequalities, shocking levels of poverty and increases in the number of people living with major illness and mental health problems. It is argued that the school nurse has never been more essential in supporting the health and well-being of children and young people which includes their integral role in safeguarding. In this article we will explore why this might be the case, the difficulties and opportunities and, importantly, how, alongside our paediatric colleagues in both community and acute settings, we can best garner our combined efforts to rise above and beyond the escalating challenges.