National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)
Each child in England is weighed and measured as part of the National Child Measurement Programme.
Children in Reception Year (aged 4 -5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10-11 years) are weighed and measured during the school year in England. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provide the NCMP in Oxfordshire. The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust website has lots of information about the programme and associated support.
How it works
If you have a child in one of these years, you will receive a letter with more information about the programme from your child’s school.
Trained staff will weigh and measure your child in his or her clothes. Care is taken to ensure that the measurements are done sensitively and in private. Your child’s results will not be shared with any school staff or other children.
The NCMP provider will send parents a letter with their child’s results within six weeks of being measured. This will tell you:
- your child’s height and weight
- when they were measured
- whether this means that they are underweight, a healthy weight or overweight for their age, sex and height.
- Information on useful local and national resources and services
Data
NHS Digital receives information on all children's height and weight, but not details that could identify your child, such as name or date of birth.
The Department of Health & Social Care publishes annual reports using NCMP data to show national trends, differences between groups of pupils, and the latest regional and local authority-level data.
This information helps plan services to support healthy lifestyles in these areas.
More information
More information on the child's weight and healthy eating habits is available on the NHS Healthier Families website.
If you are concerned that your child may be underweight or overweight, speak to your GP, school nurse or health visitor