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
Information on all children’s height and weight is sent to the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) – but not details that could identify your child, such as name or date of birth.
Public Health England (PHE) analyse the anonymous data to look at trends in children’s heights and weights across England. This shapes how services are delivered and to help people improve their own and their children’s health. Public Health in Oxfordshire uses the NCMP data to work with partner organisations to tackle child overweight and obesity.
More information
More information on the child weight and healthy eating habits is available on the Change 4 Life website and NHS website.
If you are concerned that your child may be underweight or overweight, speak to your GP, school nurse or health visitor.