Targets by the Welsh Assembly to ensure that every secondary school in Wales has a school nurse look set to be met by the end of this month.

The assembly is set to install nurses into every one of Wales' 223 secondary schools; and with the three remaining posts set to be filled in April, the scheme appears to have been a success.

Plans regarding school nurses were set out amongst a brace of other appointments for social care jobs as part of the 'One Wales' scheme provided by the 2007 coalition between Labour and Plaid Cymru.

The political partnership claimed that school nurses provide not only treatment but also health advice on such topics as healthy eating, alcohol, drugs, prevention of smoking and sexual health. 

The Assembly's health minister, Edwina Hart, spoke to Nursing Times about the move. She claimed: "Delivering on our commitment to provide a school nurse for every secondary school in Wales will lead to greater consistency of the service across Wales, improving the health of children and young people.

"School nurses have a mix of skills and expertise, covering health surveillance, safeguarding and supporting children with medical, special and complex health needs."

The nurses appointed look set to work throughout the entire year and not just during school time.

Tina Donnelly, director of the Royal College of Nursing Wales also spoke to Wales Online about the plans; arguing: "We would like to see nurses in every single school in Wales because children start picking up unhealthy behaviour from the moment they start primary school."