The School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA) has released a new resource to support nurses employed by schools. The Best Practice Guidance: Employment of Nurses by Schools was launched on Friday, June 13, 2025.
Nurses working in both independent (fee-paying) schools and state-funded schools play a vital role in supporting students’ health and wellbeing. Their duties may include managing health conditions, administering medication, providing first aid, safeguarding, offering emotional and mental health support, and contributing to the PSHE curriculum.
Regardless of whether they hold the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) qualification, public health is at the core of their practice. These nurses have the potential to positively impact the health and wellbeing of individual students and the entire school community.
Recognizing the diversity of school settings and the varying needs of students, SAPHNA’s new guidance offers a flexible, best-practice framework to assist schools in developing high-quality and safe nursing services. It aims to support headteachers, governors, and school leaders who are looking to establish or review their nursing provision, as well as nurses working in or considering roles in independent and directly-employed school settings.
Sallyann Sutton, Professional Officer for SAPHNA, stated, “We know that nurses working in schools are a lifeline for many children and young people – providing care, compassion and clinical expertise in complex and often isolated roles. We hope this guidance will be a valuable tool for both schools and nurses in shaping services that are safe, effective and truly centred on the needs of pupils.”
While not mandatory, the guidance draws on professional standards from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and input from expert nurses in the sector. It can also be used to inform recruitment, role development, contractual considerations, and quality assurance.
For nurses working in these settings and the schools that employ them, SAPHNA offers further support through its membership. Members have access to advice, professional development opportunities, and a national peer network.
The Best Practice Guidance: Employment of Nurses by Schools can be accessed now on SAPHNA’s website at https://saphna.co/independent-school-nursing/.
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