The role of the school nurse in special schools for pupils with severe learning difficulties

The work of two paediatric nurses working full-time in special schools was monitored over a full school year. Most of their time was spent on routine tasks with small numbers of pupils who required enteral feeding and suctioning. They were also responsible for administering medications to around 1 in 6 of the pupils. Both nurses had an involvement in staff training and health promotion classes; more so in one school than the other. In two similar schools which did not have a nurse, the routine tasks were done mainly by teachers or assistants with support from visiting community nurses. Health promotion formed part of the school curriculum. The presence of the nurses in schools was valued by school staff, parents and other health and social care professionals. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of the British Government's aspirations for school nurses to play a key role in reducing health inequalities.