The Healthy School Child Programme forms part of the Healthy Child Programme 0-18, and has been written to fill the age gap between The Healthy Child Programme (0 to 5) and the Adolescent Health Programme (12 to 18).

It is intended primarily to be of use to school nurses and GPs and trainee paediatricians as part of blended learning for those in training or wishing to update. It can also be used as a browsable resource in conjunction with the MindEd child mental health e-learning programme. It focuses on the school-based team, the awareness, assessment and support of the mental and other health needs of primary school-age children, and the key issues around the identification and support of children with extra needs social, physical or environmental. It is not intended to replace core learning or textbooks on these subjects, but rather to focus on their impact on the health and well-being of the school-age child. Sessions will signpost the learner to other learning where appropriate. The programme equally is not designed to address in any detail the specialist needs of children with very complex problems.

The programme is divided into 7 modules: an introduction focusing on the biopsychosocial approach, talking to and engaging with children and families and the school health team. There is then a review of the health needs of the school-age child, surveillance and targeted support, including issues around transfer to secondary. The 3rd module looks at key child public and mental health issues: emotional development; the management of infectious disease; safety, accident prevention drugs and medication; and growth and nutrition and an approach to helping the obese child. The next module, the child with additional needs reviews the spectrum of learning and behavioural disabilities and their assessment; the presentation and management of mental health difficulties in the primary age child, supporting and identifying the vulnerable child o