Health Checks at School

DigForVictory

Offhand, it's not unheard off but I'd expect there to be a letter *somewhere*. The no results bit is absolutley standard.

Alikay

In my area we don't get told when the nurse is coming in either. My foster children have the checks more frequently (due to "looked after children" status) and a letter with their current height/weight and any other concerns tends to follow a couple of weeks after the event.

alleycat`

We got a letter at the introduction to the school thing about it, part of all the other bumf.

The team of nurses, one of whom happens to be a neighbour, was at the meet and great and went through what would be involved and we had to agree to allow it to happen.

It sounds, based on the other responses, hit and miss on how each area behaves.

I personally think how it was done in our case makes the most sense.

Edit: I should add we don't get told when the nurses are going to be there, just that we had to agree they could "do the do" as it were.

IrishRose12

Not sure what it's like in England etc but here in N.Ireland the nurse won't see the child if she hasn't got a permission form sent back in. From a Classroom assistant point of view, I know that I personally put those notes into the children's book bags so I know that the parents will see them.
My daughters came home in her reading record, like all other notes that are sent home, which I think is great!

Anyhow in the forms we had to fill in loads of different information, what injections she has had, if I have any concerns about my child's health, any hospital appointments that may be coming up or have just past, and what date and what for.
Kids also have a speech test along with their weight, height, hearing and sight being checked., and it's surprising how many children are referred to Speech therapy these days because of this!

Parents are also given the date and time of their child's visit and asked in the letter if they will be attending the visit with them or if they are happy for the children to go in their own, Most parents do go.
I don't like the school nurse in my children's schools though, she's very rude, not a friendly lady at all ad very strict with the kids IMO. (It's the same nurse in both schools)
Then again it may be personal as I had a run in with her regarding my son last year at his visit. She turned round and said to me he's very small, that's not normal and all sorts tutting and shaking her head, I was a bit upset as it felt as if she was accusing me of neglect!
I just turned round and said to her what do you want me to do, stretch him by the arms and legs every night?

What doesn't help my children is the fact both me and my OH are both small! So they've no chance of growing up to be really tall lol

Tenyearstogo

I used to do these checks in England ten years ago. The consent forms are usually just a form you give in to the school when the child starts, along with the forms regarding photographs etc. the form is general so that the school can ask the nurses to check hearing etc at any point.


it's a general permission asking for consent to check height, weight, sight and hearing. Due to the large amount of children, parents are only contacted if there's a problem.

The children used to come along in pairs or threes with their friends, they usually loved the attention! If there was a nervous child they usually came with the classroom assistant.

Janepig

My two are now 8 and 10 and when they were in reception we had letters home giving a date and time when they were going to be seen by the nurse and asking if I was going to go along to the appointment too. I did with DS but not with DD because I had some concerns about his hearing (what mother of a four year old boy doesn't? ) which I could have a chat with the nurse about.

Jx

kbr

I'm a school nurse and in our area, letters are sent out from the local NHS trust to parents via school. You opt out of the service rather than consent to it. We don't ask parents in as days/times aren't set and may sometimes change anyway.
We check height, weight, vision and hearing and always send a slip home that night with results. If any problems we refer on to appropriate service. We actually pick up a lot of kids who need glasses or hearing aids etc which wouldn't be picked up until much later otherwise. In year 6 it is just height and weight.

Valli

Yeah I remember going in with DS

in reception

'he's overweight' declared the nurse

I gave her one of my 'looks'

she then added 'but he's tall for his age...

yeah - so he WAS NOT OVERWEIGHT then - was he?

And he is STILL, at 20, a skinny tall person

*sigh*

If they're going to come out with rubbish like that somehow it makes it all

- so

- pointless....

RobotsinDisguse

They did this to me at school...
- Didn't pick up on my sight problems...
- Pushed me in the back and announced 'not dyslexic'....

Both my optician and educational physchologist would beg to differ.

neverdespairgirl

Janepig wrote: »

I did with DS but not with DD because I had some concerns about his hearing (what mother of a four year old boy doesn't? ) which I could have a chat with the nurse about.

Jx

Wanted to check if it was selective deafness - where they can hear words like "swimming" and "ice cream" but "bathtime" completely misses their ears?