Meeting the health needs of children and young people with severe and profound learning disabilities: the contribution of the school nurse and community learning disability nurse.

The child or young person with severe and profound learning disabilities is a child or young person first and foremost with a statutory right to education (Education Act, 1996). However, complex health needs can impact generally on their quality of life and specifically on their educational experiences. A collaborative approach is essential to effectively and appropriately support children, young people and their families in the management of their complex health needs but whilst nurses can make a significant contribution to this process, there is little discussion in the literature regarding the nursing role. The current paper seeks to address this deficit by discussing the potential contribution of two groups of nurses namely school nurses and community learning disability nurses. First however, the complex health needs of children and young people with severe and profound learning disabilities will be discussed.