Co-producing SCPHN School Nursing programmes: Engaging children and young people

In our previous column (Hayward, 2024), we discussed the signifi cant changes brought about by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2022; 2024) standards for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN). As universities continue to adapt SCPHN School Nursing programmes and embed these new standards, one of the most challenging yet essential aspects is the co-production of these curricula with children and young people.

Co-production in higher education involves collaborating with various stakeholders to co-design, co-manage, co-deliver and co-evaluate educational programmes (Brown Wilson et al, 2022). For NMC (2023) programmes inclusive of SCPHN School Nursing curricula, this means working closely with professional bodies, health and social care practice learning and employer partners, other higher education and industry experts and most importantly, the families, we serve. Engaging children and young people in the co-production process ensures that the SCPHN School Nursing programmes are relevant, effective, and truly refl ective of their needs and experiences.