Weight Management Programmes

National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)

The NCMP weighs and measures schoolchildren in Reception and Year 6.

All parents of children who are weighed and measured (unless they choose to opt out of receiving results) will receive their child’s results as well as help and signposting to support them in addressing any concerns about their child’s weight. School nursing teams will be among those available to help.

Throughout the country, children in Reception and Year 6 are having their height and weight measured as part of the NCMP, which takes place every year. If you have a child in one of these years, you should receive a letter with more information about the programme in your child’s school.

Trained staff will weigh and measure your child in their clothes. Care is taken to make sure that the measurements are done sensitively and in private, and your child’s results will not be shared with teachers or other children.

The NCMP service is commissioned by NHS Norfolk and provided by Norfolk Community Health and Care (NCH&C).

Why is it important that my child takes part?

Every child measured is contributing to the national picture about how children are growing. The more children that take part, the clearer that picture will be. The information collected helps NHS Norfolk (Primary Care Trust) to plan and provide better health services for children.

What will parents receive?

Parents will receive a feedback letter, a book mark of BMI percentiles in traffic light colours and a Change4Life ‘Top Tips for Kids’ support booklet to help kids eat well, move more and live longer.

What happens to the results?

Your child’s results will be held securely. Information on all children will be gathered together and sent to the Department of Health – but not details that could identify your child, such as name or date of birth. The Department of Health will analyse this anonymous information to look at trends in children’s heights and weights across England to shape how services are delivered to help people improve their own and their children’s health.

Support to parents

The School Nursing Service can advise parents who need further information and support. To find details of your local school nursing team, please go to:

• the HERON website,
• your child’s school secretary, or
• the NHS Norfolk Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0800 587 4132.

What can parents expect when they contact the School Nursing Team?

Teams consist of School Nurses, Community Staff Nurses, Nursery Nurses and Team Assistants. Parents can speak to any member of the team.

Parents may be offered advice over the telephone, or given an appointment so that their child’s needs can be assessed and an appropriate course of action taken in agreement with the parent and child.

The teams are small and cover many schools which means that at times the office is unmanned. Therefore, while many calls are answered within one working day; at times this can be up to three working days.