Checking in Before School

 
 
Wednesday 27 January 2010

Checking in Before School

Parents and caregivers of Southland and Lakes District children who are starting school for the first time can help their child begin school healthy and ready to learn with a B4 School Check.

The B4 School check is a free comprehensive health and development screening for four-year-olds, performed by public health nurses within the Southland District Health Board’s Well Child Service.

The assessment includes comprehensive health and development questionnaires, height and weight measurements, hearing and vision testing and an oral health check.

 If any concerns are identified, children can be referred to a doctor, or specialist, such as a paediatrician, speech language therapist, psychologist, nurse specialist or dentist.

Southland DHB Public Health Nurse and B4 School Check Co-ordinator Gillian Sim says the B4 School Check has been offered in Southland and the Lakes District for over a year and so far around 1700 children have either had or are currently in the process of having a check.

“This is the final core Well Child check and it provides an opportunity for parents to spend time with a health professional to discuss their child and any concerns they may have,” she says.

“We all know that when it comes to child health and development, early intervention is key. To know children will go to school able to learn to the best of their ability, as a result of this initiative, is extremely rewarding.”

“We’ve had children seeing clearly, after poor sight has been picked up and they’ve been given glasses, and others who have had grommets and who can now hear family and friends properly for the first time,” says Mrs Sim.

“Picking up these, and other health issues early, can make a huge difference to a child’s ability to learn and parents appreciate knowing that their children are healthy before they start school.”

Parents or caregivers of children turning four should receive an invitation from the Well Child B4 School Check team for their child to attend a check.

Parents who do not receive an invitation can contact the Well Child Service at Southland Hospital on 03 21 81 949. Further information can be found at the Southland DHB website www.sdhb.govt.nz

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