Our School Nursing Teams support Derby city’s 5- to 19 year-olds and their families.
The teams are made up of a range of health professionals, including qualified school nurses, community staff nurses, young person practitioners and NCMP (National Child Measurement Programme) screeners.
We have three teams based around the city and each school will have an allocated School Nursing Team.
If you are not attending a school, you can contact your local team which is based at either Coleman, Revive or Peartree health centres.
These teams provide advice and guidance for children and young people and support others professionals who work within Derby city. Topics they can support you with include weight management, emotional health, anxiety, school readiness, healthy relationships, personal identity and lots more.
Top tips to cope with bullying:
- Avoid the bully and use a buddy system.
- Act brave and walk away. Don’t let the bully get you angry or emotional as often, this is what they thrive on.
- Talk to your parents, school or a responsible adult.
- Talk to someone you trust about how you feel.
- Spend time building your confidence and social skills by spending time with positive friends.
Online resources:
NSPCC: Helpline and Counselling
Anti Bullying Alliance: Helpline and online resources
The Eatwell Guide shows how much we should eat of what food type in each meal. Try and use this to achieve a healthy, balanced meal.
- Fruit and vegetables: 5 different portions per day.
- Carbohydrates: base meals on starchy carbohydrates such as pasta, rice and potatoes.
- Dairy: have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks and yoghurts) each day.
- Protein: Eat proteins such as meat products, fish, pulses, and eggs.
- Treats: enjoy treats but in small amounts and less often.
- Use unsaturated oils and spreads.
- Drink: drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water a day.
Online resources:
Healthier Families: education resource
The Eatwell Guide: education resource
Livewell: One-to-one support and a variety of programmes
Health for Kids: online resources and games
PE is an important part of our health. Exercise helps to boost our self esteem, improve mood, increase sleep quality, improve physical strength and reduce the risk of illness, for example type 2 diabetes.
Top tips for exercise:
- Exercise daily for 30-60 minutes
- Make it fun
- Do different forms of exercise
- Workout with family or friends to make it sociable
- Change your environment to keep it interesting
Online resources:
Health for Kids: Online Resources and Games
Top tips for starting secondary school
- Look at your secondary school’s website
- Check the rules for your new school, for example mobile phone policies
- Focus on positive thoughts
- Get into a structured routine
- Get school uniform and equipment ready
- Make arrangements for travelling to school
- Make arrangements to meet friends on the first week of your new school.
- Talk about your worries with people you trust
- Visit your new school before starting
Be proud of yourself and what you achieve!
Puberty
Puberty is the name for when your body begins to change and develop.
What happens during puberty?
Your body begins to change. For example:
- For girls: Breasts grow, hips develop and periods start.
- For boys: reproductive organs develop, your voice gets deeper and facial hair begins to grow.
- Hormonal changes begin for all genders. Sometimes people can experience acne as a result of this.
- Body hair begins to grow for all genders.
Online resources:
Looking after your mental health
- Talk openly about your feelings to someone you trust
- Build and follow positive routines. For example, exercise regularly and get 8 hours sleep each night
- Spend time in nature. For example, walking in the park
- Create positive methods to manage conflict and problem solve
- Connect with your community
- Look at positive role models in your life
- Live an overall healthy lifestyle
- Make time for play
Online resources:
Action for Children: information and resources
The Samaritans: helpline and advice
CAMHS: advice, support groups and 1:1 support
Young Minds: guides and advice
Top tips for being safe online:
- Think before you post—once you post something, it’s difficult to make that private again
- Don’t share personal information. For example your school name, home address or phone number
- Think about WHO you are talking to—not everyone is who they seem to be online, so make sure people you talk to are people you know and are the same age as you
- Keep strong passwords and use different passwords for different logins
- Cover web cameras when not in use
Online resources:
Child Net: help and advice around internet safety
Internet Matters: guides and resources
Personal identity is a lifelong journey of understanding, acknowledging and sharing one's personal identity with oneself and others.
It may be quick and easy for some or longer and more difficult for others.
Everybody should feel comfortable and happy in their own body.
This can relate to religion, orientation, heritage or disability.
Derbyshire LGBT+ Advice and Support
Culture Derby 2025: Derby Strategy for Culture 2020-2030
Stonewall - Information, support and guidance on LGBTQ+
Derby's Local offer for SEND and Disabled children
Derby City Life Links - Further support, resources and links
What is classed as a healthy relationship?
- Respect
- Trust
- Equality
- Honesty
- Communication
- Support
- Encouragement
- Empowerment
Top tips to have healthy relationships
- Be proud of what makes you an individual
- Always be honest, kind and respectful to yourself and others
- Express your voice and opinions whilst listening and understanding others and their views
- Practice calm and responsible conflict resolution
- Understand bullying to ensure you're not doing that to people or receiving it
- Remember that no means no when you are someone else says it, about anything
Online resources:
Childline: information, advice and helpline
Risks of drinking alcohol, smoking, vaping and drugs:
- Drugs and alcohol can make difficult feelings more painful and make existing mental health conditions worse
- Substance use can affect young people's judgement leading to risky behaviours, making you vulnerable and in greater danger
- Drugs and alcohol can interfere with existing prescribed medications
- Trying these substances can lead to addiction
Online resources:
Talk to Frank: Facts, Information and Helpline on drugs
The Mix: Support, Information and Helpline on Drugs and Alcohol
Livewell Derby: Support and information on Smoking
