Sharp fall in England’s school nurses threatens early support for children
A King’s Fund report warns that the sharp fall in school nurses and health visitors is reducing children’s access to early health support in England. Without prevention and timely help, problems such as mental distress, obesity and long-term conditions may worsen, increasing pressure on families, schools and the NHS.
School nurse numbers fell 38 per cent, from 3,026 full-time equivalent roles in January 2010 to 1,862 in June 2026. Health visitor numbers dropped 45 per cent, from 10,309 in October 2015 to 5,666 in June 2026. The report says remaining staff are increasingly occupied with safeguarding, leaving less time for prevention, while teachers may be asked to support children with medical needs despite limited specialist capacity.
- England has fewer school nurses and health visitors.
- Preventative support for children is being squeezed.
- The report warns problems may escalate and add pressure to the NHS.
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School nurses and health visitors are healthcare professionals who work in schools and communities to support children's physical and mental health. They assess children's development, give advice on nutrition and wellbeing, and identify problems early when they are easier to treat.
The number of these professionals in England has fallen sharply over the past fifteen years. This means fewer children can access these services, and the remaining staff are increasingly dealing with urgent child protection matters, leaving them less time for prevention and early health support.
This decline matters because early intervention can stop minor health issues becoming serious problems. Without sufficient school nurses and health visitors, children struggling with mental distress, weight concerns or developing long-term conditions may not receive timely help, which puts extra pressure on families, schools and the NHS.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The sharp declines in school nurses and health visitors significantly reduce early intervention capacity. These professionals identify emerging mental health problems, obesity, developmental delays and health concerns before they escalate into serious, costly conditions requiring intensive NHS treatment. The evidence supporting preventive healthcare in schools is well-established; cutting these roles saves money in the short term but creates far greater downstream costs. Teachers are increasingly expected to handle medical support they're untrained for, and with fewer dedicated staff, vulnerable children will inevitably be missed.
The case against
Staffing levels must reflect realistic budgetary constraints affecting public services. Earlier staffing numbers may not represent optimally deployed resources, and alternative service models—including better-targeted specialist provision, efficiency improvements, and technology solutions—might meet health needs effectively with different structures. The predicted harms from staffing reductions, whilst reasoned concerns, remain somewhat speculative; declining numbers do not automatically produce worse outcomes if services reorganise appropriately and resources target high-priority needs. All public services must make difficult choices about allocation, and these staffing decisions reflect those necessary constraints.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Collapse in school nurses risks creating a generation of sick children with a lifelong dependence on the NHS, report warns”.