Weighing and measuring primary school children: evaluation of the TRENDS model for implementation of Department of Health guidelines.
BACKGROUND
The UK Department of Health for England and Wales has issued guidance to all local Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), who have responsibility for school nursing services, for the annual weighing and measuring of all children on entry to primary school and in Year 6 (age 5 and 11 years respectively), known as the National Child Measurement Programme. The guidance places the responsibility for implementation and funding of this scheme onto the PCTs.


METHODS
This paper describes the conduct and evaluation of the 2006 monitoring exercise in a 10% sample of Leeds primary schools.


RESULTS
The evaluation showed that the exercise can be carried out with little disruption in schools and minimal distress for children.


CONCLUSIONS
Recommendations include: adequate staff training in measuring children, along with anticipation of the issues and problems they may encounter and best practice for dealing with them. A good working relationship must be established between the team and school before the measuring day. Schools need to ensure the availability of suitable accommodation and a screen to maintain privacy. Lightweight but robust and accurate scales conforming to the European Union standard should be used and routinely checked for accuracy. Where possible, children should not be lined up, but seen individually. This is considered essential for the older Year 6 children.
Levine
R S
RS
Department of Child Health, University of Leeds, UK. r.s.levine@leeds.ac.uk
Connor
A M
AM
Feltbower
R G
RG
Robinson
M
M
Rudolf
M C J
MC
D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006078:Government Programs; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology