Wolves 0-19

14/03/2026

Are you a parent to a child aged 0-5? Download the ‘Healthy Child Wolves’ app for tips, advice and signposting.

Available free from the App Store or Google Play.

13/03/2026

Good sleep is vital for health, learning and emotional wellbeing - but many families tell us they’re facing challenges at bedtime. Our School Nursing teams regularly support young people experiencing:
✨ Difficulty settling at bedtime
✨ Night waking or inconsistent sleep patterns
✨ Bedwetting that disturbs sleep
✨ Reliance on screens close to bedtime
✨ Irregular routines, especially after weekends or school holidays
✨ Sleep challenges linked to neurodiversity

To help with these common issues, we offer practical guidance such as:
🛏️ Building a consistent bedtime routine – put your child to bed at the same time, using the same steps each night
📵 Reducing screen use at least an hour before bed
🌗 Creating a calm sleep-friendly environment - dark, quiet, comfortable temperature (red light can help with melatonin production)
🚰 Managing fluids in the evening and avoiding irritants like blackcurrant juice or tea
🏃 Encouraging physical activity during the day to support better sleep at night
🖼️ Using visual timetables or social stories for children who benefit from structure
📖 Promoting relaxation strategies, such as calm breathing, reading and quiet time
📝 Keeping a simple sleep diary to understand patterns and triggers

We can also signpost families to helpful local and national support:
🔹 Our School Nurse SEND in Mainstream parent workshops (includes a session on sleep) – call our SPoA Hub for more information on 01902 441057
🌐 https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/
🔹 Wolverhampton Family Hubs who provide support around routines and boundaries
🌐 https://eric.org.uk/ for help with bedwetting
🔹 Secondary School Nurse drop-ins

If there are concerns like snoring, pauses in breathing, or persistent bedwetting, we’ll always suggest a GP check up to rule out medical causes.

💬 If you’re worried about your child’s sleep, please reach out. Our School Nursing team is here to help.

12/03/2026

Midwives, Maternity Support Workers, Health Visitors, Neonatal Nurses and Public Health teams across the Black Country are highlighting an important campaign to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Safer Sleep Week, which runs from Monday 9 March to Sunday 15 March and is a Lullaby Trust campaign, is supported by the Black Country Local Maternity and Neonatal System (BC LMNS).

This year’s theme is “Keep it simple to keep it safe” and focuses on reminding parents of the essential items a baby needs at a time when there are so many products being advertised or featured.

11/03/2026

The Best Start in Life website is a great tool to support your complementary feeding journeys.

The Introducing Solid Foods section is full of helpful guidance around topics like ‘How to start weaning your baby’ and ‘Safe weaning’.

This section also links to a handy collection of recipes and meal ideas and the Ready or Not Weaning Quiz, which can help you as families identify whether your baby is ready for complementary feeding.

Weaning means introducing your baby to solid foods alongside their usual breast milk or infant formula. We're here to guide you through the journey.

10/03/2026

The decluttering trend encourages us to decant our cleaning products into jars and other prettier dispensers. But this can put your child at risk.

Here’s why:

1. Chemicals in cleaning products can cause serious harm. Including life-changing chemical burns to eyes, skin and throats.

2. Cleaning products come in child-resistant packaging for a reason – to slow children down and reduce the chance of accidents.

3. The original bottles have essential information about first aid, chemical ingredients and proper handling. If an accident should happen, you’ll need this to hand.

4. Out of their original container, cleaning products are easier to mistake for a drink or sweets. So, the risk of a child swallowing them is much higher.

So, please keep products in their original containers and out of reach of curious little hands.

08/03/2026

New data shows around 1 in 4 young people leave school without protection against HPV (human papillomavirus).

Left school? You can get the HPV vaccine at your GP practice until the age of 25.

Still in school? Catch-up is offered by Vaccination UK 👉🔗 https://www.schoolvaccination.uk/

ℹ️ https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/hpv-vaccine/

08/03/2026

Marked annually on March 8, International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate women, and their achievements, while reflecting on their experiences.

Thank you to the incredible women here at RWT who go above and beyond for our patients every single day. 👏

06/03/2026

Healthy teeth and healthy tummies start with simple habits such as:

🪥 brushing twice a day
🍎 choosing balanced snacks

Try reading stories that include food or brushing themes to make learning fun for little ones 📖

05/03/2026

Latha Titupatukumara – Named Doctor for Children and young People in Care 💬

“I enjoy reading The Tracy Beaker Series by Jacqueline Wilson with my daughter. It opens up great conversations about friendships and feelings.”

Dr Stephanie-Ann Simon - Consultant Community Paediatrician/Clinical Lead, Medical Advisor for Fostering and Adoption, and Designated Doctor for CYPiC and Adoption, adds 💬

"Reading for pleasure is linked to improved mental wellbeing and stronger literacy skills. For older children especially, shared reading keeps communication open and shows that reading is valuable at every age."

05/03/2026

Jess Wood – Directorate Manager for Children’s Community Services, 0-19 and Children and Young People In Care (CYPIC) 💬

“I've loved reading lots of different story books to my children and one of my favourites was ‘Why Elephant has a Trunk’.”

There are lots of benefits to reading to your children. It helps to build imagination and creativity!

✨ When we read with children, we’re helping them understand the world – and their place in it.

05/03/2026

Louise Morby – Children's Community Sister 💬

“My favourite book to read to my children was The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. It’s such a lovely way to explore counting, days of the week and healthy foods.”

Sharing books from an early age supports speech and language development and strengthens the bond between parent and child. Repetition, rhyme and colourful illustrations all help children build understanding and confidence.

📚 Reading isn’t just about words – it’s about connection.

05/03/2026

This World Book Day, some of our staff has shared their favourite books to read as a child or to their children! 📚

Jane Lawrence – Senior Matron for Children's Community Services, 0-19 and Children and Young People in Care 💬

“I'm sharing my favourite book I read as a child, it's The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton.”

Reading together creates magical moments that children remember for years. The National Literacy Trust highlights that children who are read to regularly are more likely to develop strong language skills and a lifelong love of reading. Even just 10 minutes a day can make a big difference.

📖 This World Book Day, why not start a new adventure together?