Julie Adebayo
Clinical Team Leader
Children & Families Services
Balham Health Centre
120 Bedford Hill
SW12 9HS
Tel: 0208 812 6214
Mobile: 07717 158 791
October 31, 2014
Dear Head teacher,
Measuring height and weight of children in Reception and Year 6 – The NCMP
Important information, please read
I am writing to inform you about arrangements for measuring the height and weight of Reception
and Year 6 pupils under the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) and to ask for your
help in carrying this out. Many thanks for participating in the NCMP last year. A national report on
last year’s findings is available at http://www.hscic.gov.uk/ncmp.
As set out in the 2010 Schools White Paper, ‘Good’ schools play a vital role as promoters of
health and wellbeing in the local community, understanding the links between pupils’ health and
their educational achievement. Obesity can impact educational attainment in many ways such as
poor mental health, stigmatisation and discrimination, disordered sleep, decreased time spent in
physical activity and socialising and absenteeism.
The NCMP is an important part of the work in our local area to tackle child obesity. It has the full
support of the Wandsworth Council, the NHS, local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) and
the Health and Wellbeing Board; reducing childhood obesity is a key priority in our Joint Health
and Wellbeing Strategy and in the plans of the Local CCGs. The measurement exercise will also
help to support sharper targeting of activity in a climate of reduced resources.
The NCMP provides essential data to monitor underweight, healthy weight, overweight and
obese children and to inform local planning and delivery of services. The programme also
engages and informs children and families about healthy lifestyles through sharing the results
with parents and carers. All parents/carers will be sent their child’s results following the
exercise, unless they opt out. Research has shown that parents want to receive their child’s
results.
The results of NCMP can be used to agree health priorities and actions that will improve
outcomes for children. Healthy Living (including physical activity and healthy eating) is a key
priority that schools are encouraged to focus on as part of the Healthy Schools London
programme. Agreed actions can be included in the school’s Healthy Schools plan. If the school
selects Healthy Living as a Healthy Schools priority, we can support with further ideas and the
sharing of practice between schools.
Continued……..
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Actions the school is encouraged to take to facilitate the NCMP this year are listed under ‘Help
Needed from Schools’.
We would ask schools to do all they can to ensure that as many children as possible take part in
the exercise so that the results are as complete as they can be. Annex A provides more
information about the arrangements for carrying out the measurement exercise.
Help needed from schools
The NCMP is a national priority programme, and we are very keen that all schools support it. The
weighing and measuring process will involve minimum disruption and little extra work for school
staff. To enable us to conduct this programme, we ask head teachers to assist us in the following
areas:
A
Identifying any children who may be unable to participate because of disability,
medical conditions or any other reason
B
Sending letters to parents and carers to inform them about the NCMP
It would be hugely helpful if the initial letter could be sent from the school. The letter
should be sent to all parents and carers of children in Reception & Year 6. The letter
explains the process and includes information on how to opt out of the programme.
C
Collating any ‘opt-outs’
Please ensure that any opt out slips are kept securely in the school and given to the
School Health Team when required
D
Including ad hoc transfers into Reception and Year 6
We ask you to ensure that any ad hoc transfers into Reception and Year 6 after the
information letter is sent to parents and carers are given a copy and any opt out slips
from this group are kept with the others for the School Health Team :
E
Identifying a suitable room or area where measurements can be taken privately
F
Arranging for staff to help to bring children to and from the measurement area,
and remaining with them for the measurement; this is essential for Reception
children
G
Liaising with the School Health Team
A speedy response and liaison with the School Health Team to agree dates, times and
venues for the measurements for both Reception and Year 6 children would be
appreciated.
Continued……..
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We would be most grateful for your support and co-operation as we undertake the measurement
programme over the coming months. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate
to contact Julie Adebayo, Clinical Team Leader (Children and Families Services) on 020 8812
6214.
Thanking you
Yours faithfully
Houda Al Sharifi
Dawn Warwick
Joint Director of Public Health
Director of Education & Social
Services
NHS Wandsworth/London Borough Of Wandsworth Wandsworth Borough Council
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ANNEX A
Arrangements for Carrying out the Measurement exercise
St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust (Community Services division) is responsible for
carrying out the NCMP and, in accordance with the regulations, the weighing and
measuring must be undertaken with sensitivity and respect for children’s privacy and
dignity. Health professionals from Community Services Wandsworth will oversee the
measurements and ensure that all staff involved are appropriately trained. Children will
simply be asked to remove their shoes and any heavy outdoor coats, so that they can be
weighed and measured in their normal indoor clothing.
No information about individual children’s weights or heights will be disclosed to pupils or
school staff, although the school will receive aggregated results. Data will be shared within
the NHS and Local Authority and will be held securely.
Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from the programme so the
Council has a duty to ensure that all parents and carers receive a letter of explanation,
which also gives them the opportunity to say that they do not want their child to take part.
Children themselves may also refuse to take part on the day – clearly, children should not
be coerced or forced to participate. However we would ask schools to do all they can to
ensure that as many children as possible participate in the exercise in order to ensure the
results are as complete as they can be.
Children must be physically able to stand unaided to be weighed and measured and any
who are unable to do so are not required to participate. It would be helpful if any children
with such disabilities are identified beforehand, but we recommend that their parents or
carers are still informed that the programme is being carried out, and we can send
a separate letter offering that their child be weighed and measured in an alternative setting
if appropriate.
Visit www.nhs.uk/change4life for lots of handy hints and tips for a healthy family. You can join
Change4Life for free and be the first to hear about new activities, apps and offers. Register with
Change4Life online or call on 0300 123 1012. When you register you will receive a free Welcome
Pack including colourful charts and stickers, activities, recipes and a handbook full of useful tips.
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