The Department of Health has released new updates to assist parents in preparing for their child's screenings. Additionally, a video on the P1 screening informational page emphasizes the role school nurses play in fostering a healthy community. There are two types of annual screenings: Allied Health Screenings, which take place during the summer, and School Nurse Screenings, which begin in September.

Under the designated health mandate, screenings are a key part of laying the foundation to create a health benchmark for targeted interventions and policies that meet the demand for certain healthcare needs. The Department offers multiple important screening and assessment programmes facilitated by the public health team to achieve this goal. 

During summer, the Allied Public Health Team screens children entering P1 in a Government primary school for speech-language and sensory-motor skill development. The screening gives parents an idea of their children's skill strengths and areas where additional focus would help with development.

The screening looks at a child’s ability to listen, speak, think, learn, play, walk, and run and checks for motor, speech, and language skills necessary to read and write.

Allied Health screenings last from 30 to 100 minutes. The allied health team will schedule an additional appointment if further assessment is required. Screenings are scheduled for July 1st - 12th, 2024, at the Harrington Sound Primary School.

In the fall, the health department's school nurses will collaborate closely with the Allied Health team to assess a student’s height, weight, vision, hearing, and blood pressure to create a baseline understanding of the student's health status. The school nurse is also responsible for educating and promoting healthy lifestyles for students across all primary schools.

With the parents' consent and preferably their participation, the school nurse will facilitate a School Health Assessment session, during which a doctor will conduct further assessments to evaluate a child’s motor skills, social well-being, and vaccination status. 

All screening and assessments with the school nurses occur in the safety and familiarity of the child’s school.

Health Minister, the Hon. Kim Wilson, J.P., M.P. said, “Each year, school nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech-language pathologists begin assessing every young person at the critical stage of their development before reaching key educational milestones at the primary school level. 

“Our dedicated nursing and allied health team play an important role in ensuring the overall well-being of school children as they learn and grow.”

School Nurse Kelly Crampton said, “Parents and guardians are invited to visit the Department of Health’s newly updated portal page to learn how the screenings are integral to tracking their child’s growth and overall well-being.

“A two-minute informational video posted to gov.bm, gives busy parents the flexibility to view and learn about the importance of P1 screenings in their own time.” 

For more information, visit Department of Health: P1 Health Programmes.