Parents and carers of children in Reception classes and Y6 will shortly be receiving a letter regarding the National Child Measurement Programme.
It measures the height and weight of children in Reception class (aged 4 to 5) and year 6 (aged 10 to 11) to gather information on weight levels.
Further information about the programme, including a short film, can be found on the Info Hub website. You can also find links to useful health and wellbeing information on the Info Hub website.
What is the data used for?
The data is used nationally to support public health initiatives, and locally to inform the planning and delivery of services for children.
It also identifies trends in growth patterns as well as providing an opportunity to engage with children and families about healthy lifestyles.
How is weight defined in children?
Defining children’s weight is a complex process, given that children of different ages and sexes grow and develop at different rates.
This means that a different method is used for children than for adults.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated by dividing their weight (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in metres), and for children, this is then compared to a reference sample of measurements gathered in 1990, which takes age and sex into account.
Further information is available in a guide to classifying body mass index in children produced by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), which is part of the Department for Health and Social Care.
How does my child take part in the programme?
Before the programme starts, all parents and carers of children eligible for measurement will receive a letter informing them of the programme.
Parents or carers can choose to withdraw their child from the process by responding to the letter. Children can also opt out on the measurement day.
How is the data collected?
Local authorities are asked to collect data on Reception Year and Year 6 children’s height and weight from all state-maintained schools within their area.
The data is submitted to NHS England, and all of the data returns are collated and validated centrally. This means we can compare one area against another and against national averages.
Individual results are normally shared with parents / carers within six weeks. Children’s results are not shared with school staff.
How is the data used?
NHS England use the data to produce National Statistics Reports showing trends at national level, differences between groups of pupils and the latest local authority level data.
The data is also shared with the OHID Obesity Risk Factors Intelligence team (OHID Obesity RFI) but in a form that no individual child could be identified. OHID present the data in an online tool that enables examination of patterns and trends at local authority level.
No information is ever published by NHS England, OHID or the local authority in a way that could lead to individual children being identified.
Contact details
If you have an enquiry about the National Child Measurement Programme, please call 0300 303 5678 or email enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk. Alternatively, please speak to your School Nurse by calling 0151 514 2666.