School nurse??

[mrsmalumbas]

Just received a health questionnaire for DD - she's in year 1 but we're new to the UK so therefore she is new to the "system". I filled in the form, she has NO health issues whatsoever, is robustly healthy and a perfect weight. On the form there is a space for you to give permission for the nurse to see your child for a health check (without you there) to do height and weight etc. I just don't see the point! I have therfore declined to give permission. Anyone else done this? Will I be branded a troublemaker by the school??!

What is your objection?

We are in Hungary and it is a legal requirement in all schools here (even the international ones) for a Hungarian doc to do a similar check on each child every year. I don't have a problem with it.

it's some government directive to measure children's height and weight normally in the reception year and year 6.

The measurement is to monitor for obesity (as the government publish information on this and have targets to reduce obesity in children). It's not a 'health screening' as such though there are other health screenings like dental, eyesight, hearing that you may get through school that are proper screenings iyswim.

don't think you will be branded a troublemaker. I think some of my friends declined permission but was present for the health check. May be the school will ask for you to go along for the health check.

She won't be in a room alone with a doctor if that's what you're worried about.
I'd have no problem with it.

Hi thanks for replies. My objection is not so much to do with her being in a room alone with a doctor or nurse, it's just that I don't see the point. Isn't her health my responsibility, not the schools? I really hate this kind of state-sponsored "busybodying" - just like I hate things like routine vaccinations and health visitors and social workers and all the rest of the "system". I also hate them doing things just to comply with some stupid statistic gathering exercise. I agree that maybe there are some kids with health issues such as obesity or such that a school nurse might be able to spot. But I know my DD is in robust health, and if she wasn't I would take her to the doctor. Maybe I am overreacting, I'm sure in itself it's a harmless little exercise, I just get all stroppy about things like this and start muttering "thin end of the wedge!" to myself. Grrr. Sorry, I will get off my soapbox now!

Budge over, MrsM - we're sharing the same soapbox!

We said NO for DS but because of all his health issues

I am sure I was branded a trouble maker but I didn't care

He is a surviving identical twin who were born at 27 weeks and was in NNU ITU for 3 months and IME and IMHO no ordinary doctor or nurse ever ever understood him and his needs

SO he didn't fit into their "normal" ranges of milestones and so I didn't want him to be seen by a nurse I had never met who knew nothing about him or the history

Also he was being seen by the peadiatrians at the hospital for check ups regulary

Also our GP knew him very well and knew what he ahd been through

Mind you to get into senior school he had a medical but we were present and it was done with a very detailed medical history