Service overview
Our school nursing teams are led by school nurses (nurses and midwives with specialist public health qualifications), with support from community staff nurses, school health assistants and administrators.
We support the health and wellbeing of school-aged children and young people who attend state-maintained schools, free schools and academy schools in Bracknell Forest, Wokingham, Reading and West Berkshire. We also provide support for children who are home educated.
We lead on the 5 to 19 element of the Healthy Child Programme and work closely with schools, health visitors, GP’s, paediatricians and local services.
The Healthy Child Programme is a national programme that gives every family support through screening tests, developmental reviews, immunisations, and parenting advice.
Accessing our service
You don’t need a referral for routine height and weight measurement checks in reception and year six. For other advice and support, you will need to fill out a referral form.
If you are aged 13-19, you can make a referral yourself, or if you are a parent or carer, school or other agency, please complete the referral for the area you live in.
To make a referral for the area you live in:
Preparing for an assessment
Our school nursing teams provide confidential health advice and support to children and young people of school age and their families on a range of health-related topics including continence, healthy eating, anxiety, stress, sleep, self harm, long term medical conditions, either through arranged appointments at school, clinic or home or drop-ins at school, depending on what works best for your child and family.
If you're attending one of our enuresis clinics, you'll sign in at reception before being welcomed by a nurse. Appointments last up to 30 minutes and focus on understanding bedwetting concerns and exploring strategies to help your child become dry at night. Please remember to bring or email any monitoring charts in advance. Your child may be offered up to six appointments.
Managing your health
Your e-Health Passport
Your e-Health Passport lets us know what's important to you - from your preferred name and pronouns to how you'd like us to support you and communicate with you.
Learn moreContact us and FAQs
ChatHealth
If you need some advice, you can text a school nurse. It's private and confidential. You might want to talk about things like relationships, healthy eating, drugs and alcohol, anxiety, stress, bullying, self-harm, body changes, sleep, or anything else that’s worrying you.
If you're a parent or carer of children and you're worried about any of these things, you can text us too. We’re here to support you.
Frequently asked questions
Who can use the School Nursing service?
All families are welcome to access the School Nursing service.
Is a referral needed?
You don’t need a referral for routine height and weight checks in Reception and Year six.
For other services, such as our bedwetting clinics, a referral form is required.
How can professionals access support?
If you're a professional working with a family, you can access support by contacting the local team in your area.
Bracknell Forest
Phone: 0300 365 6000
Email: Bracknellforest.sn@berkshire.nhs.uk
Wokingham
Phone: 0118 904 7330
Email: csnwokingham@berkshire.nhs.uk
Reading
Phone: 0118 904 7320
Email: csnreading@berkshire.nhs.uk
West Berkshire
Phone: 0118 904 7325
Email: csnwestberks@berkshire.nhs.uk
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays). We may have reduced cover in school holidays.
We can also help you with
Is there any information for friends, family and carers?
If you’re a family member/carer or you look after someone, there’s practical, financial, and emotional support available to you from a range of local communities and national organisations.
How do I request an interpreter?
We can provide language translation and interpretation support whenever you visit or contact us.
Tell our staff which language you prefer to use, and we will make sure the right communication support is in place for your assessment and treatment. Please let us know as early as possible so we can ensure the appropriate translation or interpreting support is available.
We offer a range of professional services to ensure everyone can understand and be understood:
- telephone interpreting
- video remote interpreting (VRI)
- face‑to‑face interpreting
- written translation
- British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting
How can I get information in an accessible format?
Anyone with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss has the right to receive information in a format that meets their needs. Under the Accessible Information Standard (AIS)—a legal requirement for all health and adult social care providers—we must ensure that people who use our services, including carers and families, can understand the information we provide and communicate effectively with us.
We can offer information in a range of accessible formats, including:
- British Sign Language (BSL)
- large print
- braille
- audio
- easy Read
- text message
- face‑to‑face support with a carer or advocate present
If you need information in any of these formats, please tell a member of our team and we will make sure your communication needs are met.
Are service dogs allowed to my appointment?
Yes. You are welcome to bring your registered service animal, such as a guide dog, hearing dog, medical alert dog, or other trained assistance dog to your appointment.
These animals are recognised as essential support and are permitted in most areas of our services.
To help us prepare, please let the team know before your appointment if you will be attending with a service animal. This allows us to make sure the environment is safe and comfortable for you, your animal, and other patients.
Please note that service animals may not be able to enter certain restricted clinical areas for safety or infection‑control reasons, but we will always work with you to find an appropriate alternative.
Treating our team with respect.
Respect is important.
We will be polite and kind and we expect that you treat our staff in the same way.
Abuse, hate and discrimination against our staff is unacceptable.
We will take strong action against anyone who is verbally, racially, physically, or sexually abusive to them.
This includes contacting the police to prosecute, and stopping future access to our healthcare services.
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Specialist Dietetic Service for children and young people
Assessments, monitoring, and tailored dietary plans for under-18s who receive enteral nutrition at home or in community settings.
Specialist Dietetic Service for children and young people: Go to serviceContinence Service for children and young people
Support for under-18s with bladder or bowel problems, such as delayed toilet training, daytime wetting, and chronic constipation.
Continence Service for children and young people: Go to serviceImmunisation Service for children and young people
Routine immunisations delivered in schools and community settings to children and young people aged 4 to 18.
Immunisation Service for children and young people: Go to serviceAudiology Service for children and young people
Hearing and balance assessments from ages 0-18, plus hearing aid testing and fitting, rehabilitation, and other treatments.
Audiology Service for children and young people: Go to serviceHealth Visiting Service
Support for families with children under 5, including screening tests, developmental reviews, immunisations, and parenting advice.
Health Visiting Service: Go to serviceExternal support
The School Nursing Service is available to children, young people and their families who live in Bracknell Forest, Wokingham, Reading, and West Berkshire.
If you live in Slough or Windsor and Maidenhead, you will need to contact the following services:
ERIC
ERIC is a national charity that helps improve children’s bowel and bladder health. Their mission is to ease the impact of continence problems on children and their families.
YoungMinds
A mental health charity that provides young people with the tools to look after their mental health.
Parenting Special Children
Draws on both lived experience and professional expertise to provide specialist information, expert advice, and a compassionate listening ear.
Charlie Waller
The Charlie Waller Trust is dedicated to helping young people achieve and maintain good mental health. It provides free, evidence-based resources and training for parents, carers, educators, and workplaces.
Beat Eating Disorders
Beat is dedicated to ending the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. It provides nationwide support through helplines, online services, peer support, and training for professionals.
Healthier Families
Healthier Families is all about making small, easy changes to help your family eat well and move more. From quick recipes and healthy food swaps to fun activity ideas for kids.
Brook
Brook is a UK charity focused on sexual health and wellbeing, especially for young people under 25. They offer free, confidential services like contraception advice, STI testing, and pregnancy support, alongside education and training for schools and professionals.
The Sleep Charity
The Sleep Charity is all about helping people of all ages get a better night’s sleep. They offer practical advice, resources, and training for families, workplaces, and professionals, tackling everything from bedtime routines to sleep disorders.