Why would the school want ds weighed and measured?

[missmapp]

DS2 ( in yr1) has just come home with letter asking for our permission to have his weight and height checked by the school nurse. We have no problem with it being checked, but wondered what might prompt this request? He is small, but has a syndrome which leads to small stature, and they know this. He is under the endocriologist (sp?) for his height aswell as a consultant for his genetic syndrome.

Should I write a letter explaining this with the consent form? Just a bit surprised and now, stupidly, worried.

Oh, he is normal weight, last checked at hosp as 3rd percentile ( height 0.2 percentile)

Are you sure they're not just weighing and measuring the whole class? They might have sent the forms to everyone. (My two aren't school age yet, so I'm not sure if/when they do this as standard procedure).

They weigh/measure all primary school children now don't they? Or do you mean in addition to that?

No, they did that in reception- he came out fine . Thanks anyway.

Yes, this is a letter from the school to us as named parents, not aimed at all the class.

This is standard in year 1 for government statistics of national children's weights/heights etc. Nothing to worry about. We didn't even receive the results from DD's. You get a standard letter if your child is overweight/obese. Suppose it would be similar if your child is underweight.

Sorry, cross post. Speak to school nurse. She may not be aware that he is already being seen by a consultant.

Ok, but he did have the government weight/height check in reception- last year. We got a BMI ( percentile) for him, which was fine. This is different as is from the FLO asking for the school nurse to check.

Sorry Buzzard!!

I think you have to ask the school!

I've been a reception teacher and never had the information. The school nurse comes in, does the tests and takes the results back to health office. It is for them not school, it is just more convenient to do it in school. Any concerns the nurse picks up, e.g. regarding hearing, is sent in a letter to parents (sometimes by hand, in a sealed envelope) via the child at school.

Hi missmapp:

Our school is having certain years weighed & measured at various points and DD2 is being tracked all the way through primary for a national children's health survey (with our premission).

Now first off gathering this data is helping the NHS better understand the range of heights/ weights of actual, real live children rather than using way out of date 1950s data, when Britain was still on rations.

Second, as you suggest, just put a little reminder at the bottom on the consent form reiterating that your child whatever 'syndrome' and therefore will be relatively low for expected weight/ height.

Finally, you also need to see it as a benefit to any children suffering this syndrome - getting measurements of a range of children across England with this condition at various points during primary school will help parents better understand if their child is progressing 'normally' despite the condition. So your DS's measurements may just one day help another Mum feel a bit better about her own child's growth.

HTH

If he's under a consultant anyway then I'd not so politely decline the school's offer. None of their business, and none of the govt's business either.

Hi Sparkling:

Although I totally respect your viewpoint that your height/ weight is your affair....

just being devil's advocate:

Would it help the government to forward plan health services if they understand that obesity is on the increase? (there's been a lot on the BBC that actually research is now demonstrating that childhood obesity isn't running riot - and it is in fact gathering metric data on children that is overturning this view - e.g.; www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25331997).

This could save the government millions in terms of having to plan to cope with side effects of obesity as adults (obese children typically becoming obese adults) - diabetes, heart disease, etc...

Would it help the government to better track 'average' growth? This is a real issue because the growth charts are largely based on possibly out of date data. (e.g. 0 - 4 growth charts based on data collected in 1980s - www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default/files/asset_library/Research/Growth%20Charts/Education%20Materials%2001092010/FS1%20What%20are%20growth%20chartsA.pdf

Knowing that children are getting taller or heavier has some planning implications for the state:

For example...
school furniture
school clothing
sporting equipment size ranges

Future classrooms may need to provide more of a range of seating options - not just those ridiculously small red plastic chairs.

Finally identifying onset of puberty is becoming more of an issue. For girls especially, puberty brings some pretty big changes and risks - educating them about their body changes is important and is a legislated requirement for schools. If more and more girls are starting menstruation in primary schools - schools need to be aware of this possibility, need to prepare children (and parents) for this and need to have things in place should the unexpected happen.

I hear it all the time - Children are growing up so fast these days - but they quite literally are - and adults who care for them (teachers, health professionals and indeed their parents) can benefit from better understanding what is typical development, when puberty might occur and what levels of weight/ height are a concern. Of course there will always be healthy, small, petite children - but small size & weight can signify other things - and personally I'd like to be in a society where someone is concerned enough just to gently check into things and ensure all is o.k.

Agreeing to have your child measured may seem an intrusion - but it could identify an underlying problem (e.g. www.rcpch.ac.uk/system/files/protected/page/2-18%20Fact_sheet_v8.pdf

Information on the reason behind the national child measurement programme is here: www.hscic.gov.uk/ncmp

Personally I have a string bean and a pear bod - I think they're both beautiful girls and want both of their heights & weights reflected in 'average growth' data - so that other string beans and pear bods don't feel odd or strange or weird about their bodies, but truly see it as within the range of normal.

past

That is such a good point to think about.

I'd say that as he's under a consultant and you have nothing to hide I don't understand why you wouldn't.

What you do with the letter/results is up to you but until people consent the "statistics" won't be altered to accomodate the true range of normal results.

Just ring the school nurse OP, I'm sure she will happily explain why and you can make a decision from there.

FWIW my Ds had the height and weight done in reception after which we were told he was overweight and some waffle about the average and given leaflets about healthy eating .

My DS had/has NO fat on him at all, he is the same build as my Partner who also happens to be more muscle than fat and doesn't have to work on it. That could be quite misleading when compiling figures I think......and also quite infuriating when you are told that your child is overweight when he clearly isn't because of these figures.

Nice Post, PSBD.

you can opt out if you want... I opted out of all of them.

All very good points Past, I'm well aware I'm usually the odd one out on these types of threads - I have ishoos with what I see as unnecessary intrusion by authorities: my views on the pre reception home visit are practically unprintable, and I'm not find of HV's either!

Thanks all. I have nothing against my child's height/weight being monitored- as long as it is in context for him.

I phoned the FLO today, but she couldn't shed any light on why they wanted to check, only that the school nurse has requested it. I have written a letter outlining his condition ( he has noonans) so hopefully that will explain why he is a short arse

Thanks again everyone