National child measurement programme: briefing for elected members

The National Child Measurement Programme provides a valuable opportunity to engage children, schools, parents and other partners in tackling health inequalities.

View allChildren and young people articles

Every year more than 1 million children are weighed and measured at school as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The exercise – one of the biggest programmes of its kind in the world – provides England with a record of just how many children are overweight and obese.

Currently, over one in five reception year children (22.4 per cent) and over one in three Year 6 pupils (34.3 per cent) are overweight or obese. But it is more than just a simple data collection exercise. It also provides a valuable opportunity to engage children, schools, parents and other partners in tackling health inequalities. Since councils took on responsibility for the programme in 2013, many have been doing just that – as this report documents clearly.

It is good practice like this that will make a difference to the health of children today – and shows why local government and NCMP are a perfect fit. We must build now on what has been achieved so far.