Checklist Health Checklist
Thea Jourdan gives a round up of the health checks your child should have before term starts
T
he to-do list for parents at the start of the new school year can be a very long one. But right at the top, written in red and underlined twice, should be the “must-do”
health checks. “Children grow and change so fast that problems can develop without being picked up straight away. Annual checks ups at the start of the academic year are a good way to ensure that noth- ing important is missed,” says Fiona Smith, Adviser in Children and Young People’s Nursing at the Royal College of Nursing. Schools usually take care of basic annual health checks, including height and weight checks and regular nit inspections in prep schools. Immunisa- tions and vaccinations may also be given during school time, often by arrangement with local NHS clinics. Many, including Eton College, Windsor, have
nurses on site full time – this is not always the case at day schools. Boys going up to Eton at the age of 13 have a thorough health check in the first week of their arrival. “It is very extensive and we look for a whole range of things including developmental issues,” says Dr Bob Stephenson, the Lower Master at Eton. In year two, the boys have a Cardiovascular Risk to the Young test, and Dames (Matrons) of the Houses keep a keen eye on anyone who may need to be referred to the fully-staffed health centre. But few schools carry out routine eye and hearing
tests, leaving that responsibility firmly with parents. “A few schools do have arrangements with local
optometrists but most will expect parents to take care of their children’s eye health,” says Smith, who advises all RCN members, that are registered school nurses, on best practice. “Of course, they will flag up any problems and potentially carry out, or refer, investigations in individual cases.” Eye tests should be done annually from birth up
to the age of 15, as they are available on the NHS – up to 18 if in full-time education. “In an ideal world, you should arrange six- monthly checkups for your child, especially up to the age of 10,” says Dr Clyde Alexander, an optometrist based at Alexander Ko-
Summer 2012 FirstEleven 49
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