🏫 School Health · Parent Guide
NCMP School Weighing Explained
Got a letter about your child being weighed at school? That is the National Child Measurement Programme. Here is what it is, when it happens, what the results letter means, and what to do if the result surprises you.
What Is the National Child Measurement Programme?
The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) is an annual NHS programme that measures the height and weight of children at primary schools across England. It has run every school year since 2005/06 and now measures more than a million children a year.
It has two purposes. For your family, it gives you a snapshot of whether your child is in the healthy weight range for their age and height. For the country, the anonymised data builds the national picture of how children's growth is changing, which helps the NHS and local councils plan services. Around one in three children in England is above a healthy weight by age 11, and the NCMP is how that figure is tracked.
Note that the programme covers England. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland run their own child measurement surveys with different arrangements.
When and How Children Are Measured
Which years are included?
Only two year groups are measured: Reception (ages 4-5), near the start of primary school, and Year 6 (ages 10-11), near the end. Measuring the same children at both points lets the NHS see how weight status changes through primary school.
The pre-measurement letter
Before measurements take place, parents receive a letter from their local authority or NHS provider explaining the programme. If you are happy for your child to take part, you usually do not need to do anything. If you want to opt out, the letter explains how, typically by contacting the school nursing team or returning a form by a deadline.
On the day
- A registered school nurse or trained healthcare assistant takes the measurements
- Children are measured fully clothed except for coats and shoes, in a private space away from other pupils
- Results are never shared with teachers, other children, or announced in class
- Children are not made to take part if they do not want to on the day
What the Results Letter Contains
Parents usually receive results within about 6 weeks, by post or through a secure online portal depending on the area. The letter includes your child's height, weight, BMI centile, and one of four weight categories:
| BMI centile | Category on the letter |
|---|---|
| At or below 2nd | Underweight |
| Above 2nd to below 91st | Healthy weight |
| 91st to below 98th | Overweight |
| 98th or above | Very overweight |
If your child is above a healthy weight, the letter normally includes information about free local support, such as family healthy lifestyle programmes run by the council or NHS. In some areas, a Tier 2 weight management service may contact you directly. If your child's result is in the healthy range, some areas only send a letter on request, so check what your local provider does.
For more on how these centiles work and what typical weights look like in stone, see our child weight chart for ages 5-12.
If the Result Surprises You
"Overweight" letters regularly make the news, with parents saying their child looks perfectly fine. A few things worth knowing before you worry:
- It is BMI, not a visual judgement: a tall, solidly built child can sit above the 91st centile without looking overweight, because BMI adjusts for height
- Clothes count: measurements are taken in school clothes, which adds a little weight versus a clinic measurement
- It is a screening snapshot: one measurement on one day, not a diagnosis. Growth patterns over time matter more
- You can ask for a re-check: your GP or school nurse can re-measure and talk through the result with you
Please don't put your child on a diet. Restrictive dieting in childhood can harm growth and create an unhealthy relationship with food. For most children above a healthy weight, the professional advice is to hold weight steady while they grow taller, through family-wide habits like active play, water instead of sugary drinks, and regular mealtimes. Your school nurse or GP can point you to free local programmes designed for families.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Child Measurement Programme?
The NCMP is an annual NHS programme in England that measures the height and weight of children in Reception (ages 4-5) and Year 6 (ages 10-11) at school. It has run since the 2005/06 school year and now measures over a million children each year, making it one of the world's largest child measurement programmes.
Do I have to let my child be weighed at school?
No. Participation is voluntary. Before measurements take place, your local authority or NHS provider sends a letter explaining the programme, and you can opt your child out by following the instructions in that letter. Children are also never made to take part on the day if they do not want to.
Will my child be told their results at school?
No. Measurements are taken privately by trained staff, away from other pupils, and results are not shared with teachers or classmates. Parents receive the results by letter (or through an online portal in some areas), usually within about 6 weeks.
What does the NCMP results letter say?
The letter gives your child's height, weight, BMI centile, and weight category: underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or very overweight. If your child is above a healthy weight, the letter usually includes information about free local support, such as family healthy lifestyle programmes.
My child's letter says overweight but they look fine. Is the result wrong?
Not necessarily. The programme measures BMI, which accounts for height, so a tall, solidly built child can be above the 91st centile without looking overweight. Measurements are also taken in school clothes with shoes off. If you are unsure, your GP or school nurse can re-measure and talk it through with you.