When your child starts school in Reception Year, their height and weight will be measured and their vision will be assessed in school by a member of our 0-19 Team.
Your child's hearing may also be tested if you have a specific concern about that. You can request this by completing a simple referral form here: Support Request Form - Thriving Kirklees
The Thriving Kirklees 0–19 team is part of Locala Health and Wellbeing and is available to support all school aged children, and their parents and carers in Kirklees.
Your child’s height and weight results also feed into the National Childhood Measurement Programme (NCMP).
You will receive an email from your child’s school with details of screening, a link to an online self assessment form and there will also be an information leaflet attached. This is usually 2-4 weeks before the date of the screening session.
At this point you do have the option to opt out if you do not wish for your child to be screened.
Around a week before we are due to screen your child you will receive a reminder text message.
On the day of the screening a trained member of our 0-19 team will visit school and perform height, weight and vision screening on children in small groups. No results will be shared with your child.
You will receive the results of your child’s screening the same day by SMS text message containing an attached letter. You will be required to enter a security code and your child’s date of birth
Vision screening check your child for reduced vision in one or both eyes and for a lazy eye. It is important as around 1 in 10 children fail this first eye test. The aim is to pick up any problems early so they can be treated and not interfere with your child's learning.
If any issues are found with your child's vision, you may be asked to take your child to the optician or a referral to the orthoptist may be required. Conditions such as squints and unequal vision require detection and treatment before the age of 7.
More information about why eye tests are important is avaialble on the NHS website.
