Children's Weight
**The National Child Measurement Programme**
The National Child Measurement Programme measures and weighs children at school to help plan better health services.
**What happens during the programme?**
If your child is in reception (ages 4-5) or year 6 (ages 10-11), you’ll get a letter from your local council with details before the measurements take place.
On the day of the measurements, trained staff will weigh and measure your child while they are dressed. The process will be handled with care and privacy, and the results will not be shared with teachers or other students.
**Why is it important for my child to be measured?**
The measurements help check if your child is at a healthy weight. If your child is over a healthy weight, you can get support from local services. Even if your child doesn’t need to be measured, every child who participates helps create a clearer picture of how children are growing nationwide. This information helps local health services plan better support.
**How can I find out my child's results?**
In some places, you’ll get your child’s results in the mail. In other areas, you may need to contact your local council. The letter you receive before the measurements will explain how to get your child's results.
If you already know your child’s height and weight, you can use a BMI calculator to see if they are in a healthy weight range. If you’re concerned about your child’s weight, talk to a GP, school nurse, or health visitor for advice.
**Why do we measure children?**
BMI (Body Mass Index) is a useful tool to determine if a child is at a healthy weight. It compares a child's weight to their age, height, and sex to see if they are growing as expected. Children are categorized as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or very overweight. About 20% of reception children are overweight or very overweight, rising to 33% in year 6. Tracking these measurements helps us understand how common weight issues are and can predict future health problems if not addressed.
**Should I tell my child about their results?**
The decision to discuss the results with your child is up to you. Some parents choose to talk about the results and make changes to diet or activity levels together, while others make changes without discussing the results. There’s no right or wrong approach.
**Where can I get help?**
If you’re concerned about your child's results, speak with a GP or school nurse. The letter you receive will include a contact number for your local council if you need more information or support. You can also find useful tips on the Better Health – Healthier Families website for making lifestyle changes and ideas for activities to do with your child. For additional support, check advice for parents of overweight children and use the NHS BMI calculator to track progress.