School Public Health Update January 2020

Welcome to the first School Public Health bulletin for 2020.

Firstly we would like to say thank you, for all your support already this academic year with supporting the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) and the TLM health questionnaires for Year R children.

DBS Assurance

We can offer assurance that all School Public Health and Immunisation team members have the relevant DBS clearance and this is evidenced by wearing the KCHFT photo ID badge.

Hearing and Vision Screening and National Child Measurement Programme

• We have nearly completed the NCMP for this academic year
• Year R hearing and vision screening will start on 2 March.

We appreciate all your support with both programmes by sharing information with parents and offering support to our staff when they are in your school.

Our Schedule Coordinators will be in touch in the next few weeks to arrange dates with you for the hearing and vision screening which will need to be completed before the end of the July term. We apologise for the quick turn around this year; however it is necessary in order to ensure that all Year R children in mainstream schools are offered a hearing and vision check.

ChatHealth

This is a confidential texting service that we offer to young people which provides an opportunity for young people to access support directly with the school public health service. This may result in a face to face meeting or will be managed through texting or signposting to other agencies.

TLM Year 6

We have just started our Year 6 TLM programme and will be offering all Year 6 pupils the opportunity to complete this electronic questionnaire between now and Easter.

If you have any questions regarding this, please contact the SPA on 0300 123 1042.

Partnership agreements

A whole school approach to health improvement in school builds on the community assets to achieve and maintain positive health and wellbeing for all. Health interventions target support for those who need additional help to address issues which may arise in Early Years, and to reduce personal and social challenges and prevent future ill health as young people enter adolescence. Health interventions in school contribute to improved educational outcomes.

We are continuing to book individual meetings with schools in the coming months to sign partnership agreements and share whole school health plans. Our approach to whole school health includes promoting and supporting schools to access the Resilience Toolkit. Our ambition is for all schools to have access to the toolkit at a whole school level and embed resilience within a whole school community to create an improved school experience for all young people.

You can now access the new Resilience Hub

Contact Details

If you have concerns about a child’s health or wellbeing or would like further information on any of the above topics, please do not hesitate to contact our team via the SPA details below:

Phone number: 0300 123 44 96
Email: nem-tr.kentchildrenandyoungpeoplehealthservices@nhs.net
Our website: Kent Youth Health website is available to all young people for advice, information and access to support.

We look forward to working with you all in 2020.