Childhood infections like measles and whooping cough are rising, with outbreaks across the country. Such infections can have a huge impact on your child\u2019s life. They can miss out on learning time because they are unwell, be hospitalised, and even experience life-long complications and disability. If your child isn\u2019t vaccinated, they\u2019re not protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is important for you to take up the offer of the NHS\u2019 free childhood immunisation programme as soon as you are offered it to ensure your child has the best protection. However, if you or your child have missed a vaccine, it is never too late to check if you can catch up. You can check your child\u2019s Red Book to see if they have missed any vaccines or check with their GP if you are unsure. The School aged immunisation service (SAIS) is available for all children of school age, irrespective of their education setting. Home schooled children can attend local SAIS clinics to receive vaccinations, including catching up on any missed vaccinations and the seasonal flu vaccination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, book vaccinations and download the consent forms, visit the website Cornwall and Devon School Age Immunisation Service<\/a> , call 01392 342678 or email the team kernowhealthcic.schoolimmsdevon@nhs.net<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you know that anyone aged 14 or over with a Learning Disability is entitled to a free Annual Health Check at their GP surgery? DCC Public Health Nursing has launched websites to provide school age children and their parents\/carers with health and wellbeing advice. The websites, developed with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, include evidenced based national content which has been co-designed with parents, carers, children and young people as well as locally written content and information about Devon services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Health for Kids<\/a> provides information for primary school aged children and includes games, videos and quizzes. The site consists of four different worlds: Staying Healthy, Illness, Feelings and Getting Help. Each world is populated with different areas for children to learn about their health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a separate area for grown-ups<\/a> for in-depth guidance and localised information (www.healthforkids.co.uk\/devon<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Health for Teens<\/a> provides information and advice for young people, including videos, games, quizzes, health information, truths and rumours. There are several different sections ranging from feelings, health, lifestyle, relationships and growing up. There is also a \u2018your area\u2019 section which includes information on Devon services and advice from local practitioners (www.healthforteens.co.uk\/devon<\/a>). These services pull through below any related content a young person accesses to facilitate improved awareness and access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This web page offers support and advice, from trusted health care professionals, every step of the way from pregnancy to five years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n .\u2022 Health for under 5s<\/a> \u2013 offers pre-natal advice and for children up to aged five years old<\/p>\n\n\n\n Devon Public Health Nursing Service<\/a> (school nursing and health visiting) – the service is available to anyone living in Devon as well as those children attending a Local Authority maintained educational setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you know, if you are aged 11-19 and live in Devon you can contact your school nurse for confidential advice and support for advice on things like relationships, bullying, mental health, self-harm, drugs or alcohol via text on 07520 631722<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s quick and easy, anonymous, and non-judgemental and a school nurse will respond within 24 hours (between the hours of Mon \u2013 Fri 9 – 5, excluding bank holidays). Parents\/carers can contact the public health nursing team (health visitors and school nurses) for confidential advice and support by sending a text to 07520 631721. Text a health visitor free of charge on 07520 631 721.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specialist health services include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n See the Children and Family Health Devon website<\/a> for more information and to access referral forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please remember it is usually recommended that your child has a check-up at the optician every 1-2 years and every six months at the dentist. If you do not have an NHS dentist and are having problems finding one then please call 0333 006 3300<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your child is asthmatic they should also have an annual review with the practice nurse at your GP surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Sleep Charity<\/a> aim to provide access to high quality information and advice to deal with most sleep issues, and ensure everyone understands the value of a good night\u2019s sleep. Find useful hints, tips and resources for children and young people on their Children<\/a> page<\/p>\n\n\n\n The National Sleep Helpline number is 03303 530 541. Trained Sleep Advisors are available to speak to on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays between 19:00-21:00 and Mondays and Wednesdays between 09:00-11:00 (excluding Bank Holidays)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Parental Minds<\/a> have developed a number of directories for families using an i-THRIVE framework. The current directories link to mental health, self harm, safety planning and children not attending school. They also offer a range of support services for parents<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parent support from Action For Children<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone has different eating habits. But if you\u2019re worried about your child\u2019s relationship with food or their body, it might be worth looking for some support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your child\u2019s eating habits negatively affect their everyday life, they may have an eating disorder. This is when someone uses food to cope with certain situations or feelings. Teenagers between 13 and 17 are most at risk, but anyone can have an eating disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can be helpful to know the signs and what to do if you\u2019re worried about your child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beat has a wide range of information on their website<\/a>. They also have a helpline and their new video-based Peer Support Service \u2013 Solace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of their work supporting children in families, the Anna Freud Centre has developed Family Ties Online Help, a programme for parents, together or separated, who want to reduce the impact of parental conflict and\/or communication difficulties on their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Family Ties is an online 10-week intervention aimed at parents who want to work together more effectively as co-parents to support the wellbeing of their children. They accept referrals directly from parents or through professionals, social workers or GPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the moment, they have a small number of free places available on this programme. Places will be offered on a first come first served process. For more information, or to make a referral, email familyties@annafreud.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to access health services in Devon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":11770,"parent":12749,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-12805","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-26 06:29:45","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12805"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12805\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72079,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12805\/revisions\/72079"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\nLearning Disability Annual Health Checks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
People with a learning disability face many health inequalities and die younger than the general population.
The Annual Health check is a full physical check covering all areas of health, including lifestyle advice and screening, questions about mental health and relationships, medication review and offering vaccinations.
Anyone on the Learning Disability Register will be invited every year.
If you or someone you know with a Learning Disability has not been invited, then please check that you are on your GP\u2019s Register by contacting your surgery.
More information can be found on the Mencap advice and support page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDCC Public Health Nursing websites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Health Support for young people and parents\/carers<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDCC Public Health Support for parents\/carers of under 5s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nMental health and emotional wellbeing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nAccessing health information and support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Text a school nurse service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You can also find lots of information about different subjects and health needs and where you can get support if you need it via their website www.healthforteens.co.uk\/devon\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nSchool Nursing service for parents\/carers and primary aged children<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
They also have a website www.healthforkids.co.uk\/devon\/ <\/a> that\u2019s split into a kids zone and a parent\u2019s zone with information about a range of health and wellbeing needs and sources of support if you need it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nChildren and Family Health Devon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\nRoutine health checks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n
Other useful links<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Sleep Charity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nParental Minds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\u2018I\u2019m worried about my child\u2019s eating habits\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBeat \u2013 the UK\u2019s eating disorder charity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFamily Ties \u2013 free parental conflict programme for parents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n