We offer some free health services to children as part of our school health programme. The programme runs in both primary and post-primary (second-level) schools.
Services include:
- eyesight and hearing screening
- vaccinations
- dental check-ups
Children in home-schooling or private schools can also avail of these free services under the school health programme.
Services in first year of post-primary school
Information and consent forms
There is a process for how the school health programme works.
A school health team arranges a screening and vaccination visit with your child's school.
In Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim vaccinations are not given in school. Your child will get their vaccines at your GP surgery.
The school shares information to help the school public health nurse plan the screenings and vaccinations.
The school gives the team:
- your child's name, address, date of birth and sex
- the birth surname of your child's mother
- contact details for a parent or guardian (including name, phone number and email address)
- your child’s personal public service (PPS) number, if any
- the school’s name and roll number
By law, the school must share this data with the HSE. We store, keep and destroy the data securely in line with our data retention policy.
The school health team will send you consent forms. There are usually 2 forms. One is for eyesight and hearing screening. The other is for vaccinations.
Your child usually carries these home in their school bag.
What you should do
When you get the documents:
- read the information
- complete the consent forms - you always have the option of using the services or not
- send the consent forms back to the school - send it back with whichever option you choose
If you have any questions about the school health programme or need any further information, contact your local health office.
Services in junior infants
When your child is in junior infants, they will be offered:
- eyesight and hearing screening
- vaccinations
Screening and vaccinations do not usually happen on the same day.
Eyesight and hearing screening
Eyesight and hearing screening helps to identify children who may have problems with their vision or hearing.
Your school public health nurse does the screening at school.
Eyesight check
The nurse checks your child’s eyesight using a special chart with letters.
If your child wears glasses, they will be checked with their glasses on.
Hearing check
The nurse uses headphones to check your child's hearing.
They ask your child to:
- put on the headphones
- listen for sounds
- let the nurse know when they hear the sounds
If you’re worried about your child’s hearing
Results of eyesight and hearing screening
You will usually only be contacted if there are concerns about your child’s eyesight or hearing.
The nurse will contact you and explain what happens next.
Your child may be offered further testing.
If a possible issue is identified, your child may be referred to a specialist in:
- ophthalmology (eyesight)
- audiology (hearing)
Your child may need treatment and supports. For example, they may need glasses or hearing aids. Hearing aids are free for your child.
Children are entitled to a free pair of glasses, if they are age under 12. The glasses will have standard frames and lenses to match your child's prescription.
Sometimes your child is referred to another service. For example, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy or dietetics.
Finding problems early
Screening aims to find and treat problems early. Getting treatment in the early years can help a child to reach their potential at school.
Missed appointments
If your child misses their screening, they will be offered another appointment. Your school public health nurse will arrange this.
Urgent advice: Contact your GP if:
- you have concerns about your child’s eyesight or hearing
Vaccinations
In junior infants, we offer your child 2 vaccines:
- the 4-in-1 vaccine to boost protection against diphtheria, polio, tetanus and pertussis
- a second dose of the MMR vaccine to boost protection against measles, mumps and rubella (the first dose of MMR is offered at 12 months)
The vaccines are given at the same time.
After vaccination, your child will get a vaccine passport. This gives details about the vaccines they got. They will also get a vaccination tear pad. This includes information about common reactions to the vaccines.
In Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, you need to make an appointment with your GP to get your child vaccinated. Vaccinations do not take place at school.
Contact your school vaccination team at your local health office if:
- you have any questions
- your child missed getting the vaccines
Vaccines offered in junior infants
Other school years
Your child may be offered the flu vaccine at school. This does not happen at every school.
You can get it for free from many pharmacists and GP surgeries.
The flu vaccine helps protect your child against flu and reduce the spread of flu to others.
Primary school dental checks
In primary school, we offer a free dental appointment to:
- all children in certain classes
- children with special needs
Check-ups are arranged through your local HSE dental clinic.
We will offer a follow-up appointment for preventative care or treatment, if needed.
Emergency dental care for children
Services in first year
In the first year of post-primary school we will offer your child 3 vaccines:
- HPV (human papillomavirus vaccine)
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough booster)
- MenACWY (meningococcal A, C, W and Y) vaccine
The vaccines help protect them against these serious diseases and illnesses.
Children in home-schooling or private school
We offer school health services to all public and private schools.
If your child is home-schooled, we usually ask Tusla (the child and family agency) to send you:
- information about the programme
- consent forms
Complete the forms and return them to your local health office. The school teams at the health office will arrange screening and vaccination appointments.
Contact your local HSE dental clinic to find out when your child may have a dental check-up. This usually depends on their age or if they have additional needs.
Contact your school public health nurse or local health office if you:
- do not get the information about the programme
- have any questions about the services