FOI/2025/26/130

Request

Further to the email chain attached, Wandsworth Local Authority have informed us to redirect our FOI request regarding the school nursing workforce to you. Please see our FOI below.

 

I am writing to submit a Freedom of Information (FOI) request on behalf of the Royal College of Nursing. This request relates to the school nursing workforce in the area covered by your local authority, as listed among the upper-tier and unitary authorities receiving Public Health Grant allocations for 2025 to 2026.

 

The aim of this FOI request is to better understand current capacity and workforce trends in school nursing services commissioned by local authorities across England.

 

Specifically, we would like to request responses/information relating to the following questions:

 

1. Do you currently commission a school nursing service? Yes/No

 

1. Which of the following best describes your current school nursing contract provider:
   1. NHS trust
   2. Charity
   3. Local authority
   4. Community Interest Company
   5. Private healthcare provider
   6. Other [please specify]

 

1. How many full-time equivalent (FTE) clinical staff were employed in your school nursing service in: March 2025; September 2024, March 2024? [If you do not have data for these specific months please provide the most recent full workforce data that you have]

 

1. How many FTE SCPHN qualified school nurses were employed at each of the following bands (6, 7, 8a, 8b, 8c) in your school nursing service in: March 2025; September 2024, March 2024?  [If you do not have data for these specific months please provide the most recent full workforce data that you have]

 

1. If your school nursing team is employed on Agenda for Change bands, please tell us how many FTE clinical staff were employed on each Band (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8a, 8b, 8c) in March 2025; September 2024, March 2024?  [If you do not have data for these specific months please provide the most recent full workforce data that you have]

 

1. For each Band (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8a, 8b, 8c) please state the percentage of school nursing staff on: temporary (agency), temporary (employed), fixed term, permanent contacts in March 2025; September 2024, March 2024?  [If you do not have data for these specific months please provide the most recent full workforce data that you have]

 

1. What was the total number of school-aged children that your school nursing service was responsible for in: March 2025; September 2024, March 2024? 

 

1. What was the average number of [primary, secondary and specialist] schools per SCPHN qualified school nurse in your area in: March 2025; September 2024, March 2024? 

 

1. What was the SCPHN qualified school nurse (Band 6) FTE vacancy rate in your school nursing service in: March 2025; September 2024, March 2024?  [If you do not have data for these specific months please provide the most recent full workforce data that you have]

 

1. Is your school nursing service currently [in April 2025] employing any SCPHN student school nurses? Yes/No, If Yes how many? [If you do not have data for these specific months please provide the most recent full workforce data that you have]

 

1. Is your school nursing service planning to employ the SCPHN student School Nurses upon completion of their training Yes/No, If Yes how many?

 

Response

See attachment