COVID-19 vaccine: Rollout of the school immunisation programme

Recently, the school COVID-19 immunisation programme was extended to include 12–15-year-olds. Dorothy Lepkowska discusses the rollout

School nursing: What's in a name?

School nursing is characterised by a small but unique workforce that plays an essential role in the health and wellbeing of children and young people. Sharon White explains why it is important to protect the profession.

School nursing intervention for COVID-19-related mental health issues in the school health office

The purpose of this review is to discuss the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the mental, physical and social health of children and young people aged 0–18 years, better understand the risk factors for these issues and explore available interventions to promote optimal health in this population globally. The risk factors, including increased screen time, economic instability, pre-existing mental illness and isolation, are explored in relation to their impact on paediatric health and wellbeing. Current mental health trends, including elevated rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide, and gaps in the available literature are discussed. The impact of the pandemic on overall health, nutrition, physical activity, household environments and sleep are also analysed in relation to possible school nurse interventions for children, parents, and communities in developing solutions to improve the health of children and adolescents. As a result of this review, the authors found significant negative correlations between children and adolescents' mental health and COVID-19 restrictions, such as altered social interaction, disturbed sleep, changes in level of exercise, and altered dietary habits.

A transdisciplinary approach to adolescent safeguarding education

Background: Adolescent safeguarding is a key public health issue, which requires a transdisciplinary approach to address the range of safeguarding risks seen within this critical period of development. Aims: The aim of this research study was to explore the need for adolescent safeguarding education within transdisciplinary programmes. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was undertaken with participants studying or teaching on nursing, policing, social work, youth work and teaching programmes at a North-West University in England. Participation involved either the completion of a JISC online questionnaire or an informal interview, the data of which was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Two key themes were identified in the data; safeguarding education and professional culture, and three subthemes: curriculum content and delivery and professional identity. Conclusions: This study has highlighted the need to adopt a life-course (adolescence) and hybrid approach (uniprofessional and transdisciplinary) to safeguarding education in transdisciplinary programmes.

Nursing associate apprentices' experiences of caring on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic

Nurses have been on the frontline during the COVID-19 crisis, providing high-quality care and facing the challenges of the pandemic. In this article, a number of nursing associate apprentices share their experiences of being on the frontline.

Poverty is not inevitable: What can schools do about it?

The facts don't lie. Poverty is a consequence of the structures and inequalities of society. It is not inevitable. Government must act, but so can we. Luke Bramhall asks what professionals working in schools can do to prevent poverty from limiting children's chances

School nurses on the ‘other’ front line

Sharon White discusses the recent changes to school nursing services to reflect the need for stronger risk management processes and an awareness of vulnerable groups of children and young people, as well as her admiration of school nurses as she shares personal anecdotes of the impact she has seen school nurses make to the lives of children, young people and their families

Just one kind word: Anti-Bullying Week 2021

Kindness fuels kindness, and in a polarised, online world it is becoming more and more crucial. Could 2021 be the year when we see the importance of kindness? Anti-Bullying Week is leading the way and Martha Evans is urging schools to get involved