Dear Parent/Carer,
Every year in England, children in Reception and Year 6 have their height and weight measured as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). Your child’s class will take part in this year’s measurement programme.
The NCMP provides information to help build an understanding of national and local trends in child weight. It is important to have a good understanding of how children are growing, so that the best possible advice and support can be provided for them and their families.
The measurements will be supervised by trained school nursing staff from the School Health Nurse team at school in a private space away from other pupils. Children who take part will be measured fully clothed except for their coats and shoes. Routine data such as your child’s name, date of birth, sex, address, postcode and ethnicity will also be collected.
The data from all schools in the area will be gathered together and held securely by our local authority public health team. Please note that we may store your child’s information on their health record. No individual measurements will be given to school staff or other children, and all information will be treated confidentially.
The programme’s data are used within the local authority and NHS to help plan the provision of services and advice to support healthy weight and lifestyles in the area. The information is also submitted for national analysis and publication in a way that means individual children cannot be identified.
We will send you your child’s results within six weeks of measurement, to your home address. If you would like to discuss your results or require further information please do not hesitate to contact the school health team, alternatively we may contact you to discuss your child’s results.
If you are happy for your child to be weighed and measured, you do not need to do anything. If you do not want your child to take part, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your concerns. Your contact is Katie Chamberlain on Mobile 07770678980 from the School Health Nurse Team.
Yours faithfully
Head teacher, on behalf of
Emma Leaver, Head of Service, Children and Young People’s Directorate, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Dr Jonathan McWilliam, Director of Public Health, Oxfordshire County Council