The Infant to School programme: supporting school readiness in children and developing community nursery nurses within health visiting teams

Background Community nursery nurses (CNNs) play a vital role in UK health visiting teams, promoting child development and school readiness. The Infant to School (I2S) programme, delivered by CNNs under health visitor supervision, provides structured early intervention for families facing adversity. Aim To formatively evaluate the I2S programme from the perspective of CNNs, focusing on short-term outcomes, reported effects on children and families, and impacts on CNNs. Methods Seventeen of twenty CNNs (85%) completed an anonymised questionnaire. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, and qualitative responses were analysed thematically. Findings Between September 2023 and February 2025, 212 families participated in the I2S programme, with language development as the main concern. CNNs reported that I2S enhanced their confidence, skills, and job satisfaction, enabling more structured, culturally sensitive, and relationship-based support. All respondents reported helping families to set and achieve short-term goals and connect with community services; 88% reported building strong relationships. Key themes included improved professional competence, greater ability to support families, and identified areas for further training and resource development. Conclusion This evaluation contributes new insight into the role of CNNs in supporting school readiness through a structured, health visiting-embedded programme. Continued evaluation, incorporating parental and child outcome data, is required to assess long-term impact and scalability.