School Based Services

The Public Health Centre offers a range of preschool and school based services for children and their families/whanau.

Whanganui District Health Board Public Health Centre School Based Services:


Well Child Tamariki Ora Service

Well Child Tamariki Ora services are a screening, education and support service offered to all New Zealand children and their families or whanau from birth to age five. The services assist and support families and whanau to improve and protect their children’s health.

Well Child services are provided by registered nurses and community health workers with specific training in child health. The current Well Child Schedule includes 12 core health checks at different stages of a child’s development.

More information about Well Child Tamariki Ora Service can be viewed on the Ministry of Health website.

B4 School Check

The B4 School Check is a nationwide programme offering a free health and development check for four year olds. It is the final health check under the Well Child Tamariki Ora Service.

It includes a check of your child’s:

  • Hearing
  • Eyesight
  • Teeth and gums
  • Height
  • Weight
  • Behaviour
  • Development


The B4 School Check aims to identify and address any health, behavioural, social, or developmental concerns which could affect a child's ability to get the most benefit from school.

More information about the B4 School Check can be viewed on the Ministry of Health website.

Public Health Nurses

Public Health Nurses are registered nurses who have experience and training in child and family health.

The Public Health Centre has 12 Public Health Nurses who provide free confidential support, advice and referral services for health related concerns that parents, caregivers or teachers may have for children in their care.

Health related concerns may include:

  • Growth and development including puberty
  • Vision and hearing problems
  • Child behaviour
  • Bedwetting and soiling
  • Health Camp referrals
  • Immunisation queries
  • Nutrition concerns
  • Child abuse issues
  • School Health policy advice


The Public Health Nurses visit early childhood centres and schools on a weekly to monthly basis according to the size of the school and their health needs.

For more information contact the Public Health Nurse office on (06) 348 1775 or leave a message at the school office if your concern can wait till the nurse’s next visit.

School Based Nursing Service

The main aim of the School Based Nursing Service is to improve the health outcomes for students in Decile 1 and 2 secondary schools by:

  • Working with schools, families and other agencies to ensure students access necessary services to address their complex health issues
  • Carrying out full health assessments on Year 9 Students


This service does not replace the services provided by the Public Health Service in the schools but will enhance current services by:

  • Allowing more focused time and effort for students in Decile 1 and 2 schools
  • Improving the case management of the students within schools through having procedures and guidelines to ensure access to necessary services
  • Working in partnership with schools to improve and maintain access between high need students, their families and relevant health/social services
  • Increasing health promotion activities


Social Worker

The Public Health Centre has one Social Worker who provides a service to children and their families as part of the Preschool and School Health Service Contract.

The Social Worker:

  • Carries out full assessments of child and family needs
  • Develops detailed intervention plans aimed at addressing identified needs
  • Implements social work interventions including group work
  • Reviews all clients
  • Carries out case closures
  • Implements education and awareness programmes aimed at long term prevention
  • Identifies ongoing quality improvements in the current case management system of clients


Vision Hearing Screening

The Vision Hearing Technician visits early childhood centres and schools to offer vision and hearing screening for children aged 4 and 11 years, as part of the national Vision Hearing Screening programme.

The programme focus is the early detection and referral of children with identified vision and hearing problems to appropriate agencies for further assessment and/or treatment to minimise the impact on the child’s development.

Early childhood centres and schools are visited regularly to carry out Vision Hearing Screening.

Immunisation Programmes

The Public Health Centre runs two school based immunisation programmes, as part of the National Immunisation Schedule.

  • Boostrix (Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis) is offered to Year 7 Students
  • HPV (Humanpapilloma virus) vaccine Gardasil is been offered to Year 8-13 students

Please note that from 2011 the HPV vaccine will only be offered to Year 8 students

More information about immunisation can be viewed on the Ministry of Health website.

School Dental Service

The School Dental Service provides free dental treatment and health promotion for children aged from two-and-a-half to 18 years of age.

Children are either treated at the on-site dental clinic at school or in a mobile dental clinic.

More information about child and teenage dental care can be viewed on the Ministry of Health website.

Health Promoting Schools

Health Promoting Schools is an effective way to improve the learning outcomes and health and well-being of all students in the school setting through a whole school approach.

It improves the physical, social, cultural, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing of students and staff.

Health Promoting Schools focuses on schools as an integral part of the wider community and offers practical ways for students, teachers, families and community members to contribute to schools and the wider community being healthy settings.

The Public Health Centre works with schools throughout the region on Health Promoting Schools strategies and projects.

More information about Health Promoting Schools can be viewed on the Health Promoting School website.