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School Age Immunisation Service
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About the service
The Barnsley School Age Immunisation Service consists of registered nurses and healthcare support workers who deliver the national school age programme of immunisations in Barnsley. These programmes are mainly delivered in Barnsley schools but may also be provided at home or a clinic venue.
Why would someone choose the service?
The vaccination team deliver the schools programmes to all children schooling in Barnsley or not in education eligible for specific programmes. They make sure parents and carers and young people are well informed about vaccinations. Also, children and young people are treated with respect and kindness at all times whilst maintaining their safety when vaccinating.
Staff you may meet
- Administrative staff provide essential support to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. This can be in a variety of different settings, with administrators working as a receptionist in a clinic or a clerk on a ward. They may also be working closely with a consultant as a medical secretary.
- Registered nurses use evidence based knowledge, and their professional and clinical judgement to assess, plan, implement and evaluate high quality person centred care. The work of registered nurses consists of many specialised and complex interventions to ensure people and their families can improve, maintain or recover health, or experience a dignified death.
Why a professional should choose the service
The team has achieved some of the highest rates regionally for its 2016-17 adolescent and flu programmes. This is due to the dedication of a team determined to protect children, young people and families and communities against preventable diseases. Our flexible service provides delivery in schools, at local community clinic bases and in the home when appropriate.
All team members are fully trained to meet national competency framework requirements.
The team has established a working relationship with our local screening and immunisation lead with regular attendance and contribution at local and regional steering groups, operational groups and programme boards. Team members have developed specific links with individual schools. This has resulted in increased awareness, acceptance and promotion of the programmes among head teachers and other school staff.
Support offered
We offer a vaccination status check and signpost to other services if not eligible for school programmes.
Outcomes
To protect individuals, families and communities against preventable diseases by making sure there is high vaccination coverage.
Referrals accepted from:
Family/carers of children and young people up to 18 years old, Schools
Referrals also accepted from:
Referrals accepted from all parents/carers and professionals who can contact the team to check eligibility. No formal referral form required.
Referral criteria:
Eligibility includes:
- All children schooling in Barnsley
- Home-schooled
- Children and young people not in education living within Barnsley
The service is happy to receive enquiries from Parents, carers, GP staff and other professionals with regard to childhood vaccinations, especially in relation to catch-up vaccinations for children aged 3 years 10 months up to 18 years.
For pre-school vaccination enquiries please contact barnsleychildhealth@swyt.nhs.uk or the child’s registered GP practice.
0-19 Public health nursing colleagues, GP practice staff and other health professionals are also able to contact the service via the Child Health SystmOne unit.
For schools:
The service will ensure clear communication with each Barnsley school prior to each school session and will work in partnership with you to ensure the best uptake. You will be allocated a link nurse.
For any enquiries regarding individual children/young people please contact the service at any time by emailing barnsleysais@swyt.nhs.uk.
A member of the school-age immunisation service would be happy to attend a staff meeting to answer any questions your team may have about the programmes we deliver.
From September 2026, the School Aged Immunisation Service are switching to a new NHS consenting system called MAVIS (Managing Vaccinations in School).
Process
For scheduled sessions, Mavis automatically contacts parents three weeks before a scheduled session to inform them about the vaccines and ask for consent. A reminder is sent one week before the session to those who have not responded.
Once a parent has completed a consent form, Mavis sends them a confirmation.
Once a Nurse has triaged answers to health questions, Mavis sends the parent confirmation of their decision.
One day before a session, Mavis sends a reminder to parents who consented to a vaccination, with details of the upcoming session
Once a vaccination session has been completed, Mavis sends the parent confirmation of the vaccination given, or the reason it was not given.
Children and young people who are home-educated or not currently in an educational setting may be invited via text message, letter or telephone call. If you believe your child is due their vaccinations and have not received an offer contact us.
Consent must be given by an adult with legal parental responsibility for the child or young person. The Children Act 1989 sets out who has parental responsibility for a child.
Mothers automatically have parental responsibility for their children.
A father usually has parental responsibility if he is:
- married to the child’s mother
- listed on the birth certificate (after a certain date, depending on which part of the UK the child was born in)
- has a court order confirming parental responsibility
Young people over 13 years old may be able to self-consent following a robust procedure to assess their capacity and understanding of the vaccines being offered.
If you experience any difficulties in completing an electronic consent form, please contact the service. We are happy to take verbal consent from you or supply a paper version of the consent form.
Childhood flu programme
In school reception to Y11
Children aged 2 and 3 after the 31 August
Children aged 4 after the 31 August and not in school
Children from 16 – 18y (SEND up to 25y)
Flu is caused by the influenza virus. It is very unpleasant for children and young people but can also lead to serious problems such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Children catch and spread the flu virus easily so by vaccinating them we also protect more vulnerable people such as babies and older people.
Most children and young people can receive the vaccine via a simple nasal spray called Fluenz. For children and young people who cannot have the flu spray, an alternative vaccine is available. This is given as a simple injection usually into the upper arm. The team will advise and support you in accessing this if required.
More information here: Child flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) – school year 8
The HPV vaccine helps to protect you from being infected by HPV. This virus increases the risk of developing some cancers later in life, such as:
- cervical cancer
- some mouth and throat cancers
- some cancers of the anus and genital areas
The HPV vaccine does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
To give you the best protection, the vaccine should be given before you become sexually active. If you are sexually active, you should still have the vaccine.
There has been a move from a two dose to a one dose programme from September 2023. The vaccine is a single injection usually given in the upper arm.
More information here: Information on the HPV vaccination from September 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and Home - HPV Inform
Diphtheria, tetanus, and polio boosters –School year 9.
This booster, also known as the 3-in-1 vaccine, is given to boost protection against 3 separate diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and polio.
Throughout childhood you will be offered 5 doses of the tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccines. This will build up and maintain your body’s own immunity against these infections and protect you against the diseases.
The 3-in-1 teenage booster is free on the NHS for all young people aged 14 (school year 9) as part of the national immunisation programme. It is usually given in the upper arm at the same time as the MenACWY vaccine.
This usually completes the 5th and final dose of the vaccine but if you have not completed the full course in earlier childhood, the team will advise you about future doses.
More information here: 3-in-1 teenage booster overview.
Meningitis ACWY vaccination– School year 9
This vaccine will protect you against 4 strains of the meningococcal bacteria – ACWY which can cause meningitis and blood poisoning (septicaemia). It’s given in a single injection usually into the upper arm. The vaccine is called MenQuadfi and is usually administered at the same time as the Diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster.
More information here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/men-acwy-vaccine/
MMR – Catch up
The combined Measles Mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and effective. It protects you against 3 serious illnesses Measles, Mumps and Rubella which are highly infectious. Vaccination is very important as these illnesses can lead to serious complications including meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy.
The vaccine is usually offered in early childhood at around 1 year 3 years 4 months old. Two doses are required to give full protection.
More information here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine/
Contact us for an appointment if your child has not had both doses or if you aren't sure.
Please note, if your child is missing any vaccinations from any age, they will continue to be invited for these in school either when a particular programme is running or at our end of year school catch up sessions and can still be offered between the ages of 16 – 18y
(Children under 10y will be invited to clinic or a private appointment)
Other vaccination information
Meningitis B
A guide to the Meningococcal B vaccine that protects against meningitis and septicaemia - GOV.UK
Find a pharmacy that offers MenB vaccinations for young people - NHS
We also offer the following from 3y 10m to 10y (with the exception of MMR) for anyone with an uncertain/incomplete vaccination schedule:
- MMR/MMRV A guide to the MMRV vaccination
- Primary vaccinations 6-in-1 vaccine - NHS
- Preschool boosters 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine - NHS
- The complete routine immunisation schedule from Jan 2025
- NHS vaccinations and when to have them - NHS
| Date | School AM | School PM |
| Monday 21 September | Park House | |
| Tuesday 22 September | Newstead Academy (Athersley) | The Abbey |
| Wednesday 23 September | Greenacre
West Ridings |
Newstead Academy (Hunningley) |
| Thursday 24 September | Springwell Special | Springwell Alternatives |
| Friday 25 September | Oakhill & Kexbrough Satelites | |
| Monday 28 September | Oxspring | |
| Tuesday 29 September | Churchfields | |
| Wednesday 30 September | Milefield and Cherrydale | Outwood Littleworth and St Helens Monk Bretton |
| Thursday 1 October | Shafton Primary and Royston St Johns | Sandhill and All Saints Darfield |
| Friday 2 October | Highview | |
| Monday 5 October | Mapplewell | |
| Tuesday 6 October | Thurlestone | Millhouse |
| Wednesday 7 October | Penistone St Johns Infants and Penistone St Johns Juniors | Silkstone Primary and Dodworth St Johns |
| Thursday 8 October | Birkwood and Robert Ogden | Brierley |
| Friday 9 October | Kings Oak | |
| Monday 12 October | Keresford | Silkstone Common |
| Tuesday 13 October | Hoylandswaine | Elsecar Holy Trinity |
| Wednesday 14 October | Penistone Grammar | |
| Thursday 15 October | Penistone Grammar and Spring Vale | Thurgoland and Gawber |
| Friday 16 October | Barugh Green | |
| Monday 19 October | The Mill academy | |
| Tuesday 20 October | Hunningley | |
| Wednesday 21 October | Worsborough Common and Ward Green | Shawlands |
| Thursday 22 October | Laithes Primary and St Marys | Queens Road and Outwood Darfield |
| Friday 23 October | Highgate | |
| Monday 2 November | Darton Primary School | |
| Tuesday 3 November | Summerfields | Parkside |
| Wednesday 4 November | Holy Trinity Primary and Joseph Locke | Holyrood |
| Thursday 5 November | Upperwood and Summer Lane Primary | Oakwell Rise and Sacred Heart |
| Friday 6 November | Burton Road | |
| Monday 9 November | Carlton Primary | Barnsley College |
| Tuesday 10 November | Greenfields | Hoyland Springwood |
| Wednesday 11 November | Gooseacre and Goldthorpe | Cawthorne and Carrfield |
| Thursday 12 November | Tankersley and Heathergarth | Birdwell and Lace wood |
| Friday 13 November | Horizon Year 11 only | |
| Monday 16 November | Kexborough | St Michaels & All Angels |
| Tuesday 17 November | The Hill | |
| Wednesday 18 November | Wombwell Park Street and Hoyland Common | Jump Primary and Oakhill |
| Thursday 19 November | West Meadows and The Forest Primary | St Helens Catholic Primary |
| Friday 20 November | Ladywood | |
| Tuesday 24 November | Athersley North | Athersley South |
| Wednesday 25 November | Darton Academy | |
| Thursday 26 November | Horizon year 7 to year 10 | |
| Friday 27 November | Wilthorpe Infants | Wilthorpe Juniors |
| Monday 30 November | Holy Trinity Secondary | |
| Tuesday 1 December | Trinity St Edwards | |
| Wednesday 2 December | Wellgate Primary and Worsborough Bank End | Meadstead and The Ellis C of E |
| Thursday 3 December | Kirkbalk | |
| Friday 4 December | Outwood Carlton | |
| Tuesday 8 December | The Dearne | |
| Wednesday 9 December | Outwood Shafton | |
| Thursday 10 December | Netherwood | |
| Friday 11 December | Barnsley Academy |
There will be two drop-in clinics prior to the flu programme starting in school, please feel free to attend if you do not want to wait until the team attends your childs school,
Eligibility
Reception to Y11
Children aged 2 and 3 after the 31 August
Children aged 4 after the 31 August and not in school
Children from 16 – 18y (SEND up to 25y)
Drop-in clincs:
- 19 September 10am - 3pm, Oaks Park Primary Care centre Thornton Road, Kendray, S70 3NE, The Jenner Suite at the left of the building
- 26 September, 10am - 3pm, Barnsley Market, 1st Floor, Family Hubs glass room near the Market Kitchen, S70 1GW
Please note, our future clinics will be appointment only, however, we do offer personalised appointments and will accommodate drop in where clinics are full. Please contact the team for further information by email - barnsleysais@swyt.nhs.uk or call 01226 644233/34.
Clinic venues:
- Barnsley Market, 1st Floor, Family Hubs S70 1GW. Glass room near the Market Kitchen
- Oaks Park Primary Care Centre, Thornton Road, Kendray, S70 3NE. The Jenner Suite at the left of the building
- Penistone Library, High Street, Penistone, S36 6BR
- The Cudworth Centre, Carlton Street, Cudworth, S72 8SU, Treatment Room 069
- The Darton Lift Building - Church Street, Darton, S75 5HQ. Glass fronted rooms on the ground floor
- The Hoyland Centre, High Croft, Hoyland, S74 9AF, 2nd Floor, Treatment room 2 and Pod Room
- The Thurnscoe Lift Building - Hollybush Drive, Station Road, Thurnscoe, S63 0JR. Consulting Room 1 and adjacent multi-purpose room
Our service welcomes feedback. You can access the Friends and Family Test survey here: The NHS Friends and Family Test – Fill in form
If you are using a computer and have a smartphone to hand, you can scan the QR code to access the Friends and Family Test survey.