Health Checks at School

mumtosix

But I am at school this afternoon, so I will ask our welfare why they don't inform parents.

surreysaver

But if you can opt out, if you don't opt out that is not the same thing as doing it with you consent!

mumtosix

I understand what you are saying, I will ask our school this afternoon why parents are not informed when these checks are taking place. I know for a fact they don't tell you as my youngest had a hearing test at school last year even though I had opted out in writing; obviously I complained!

FBaby

Department of Heath document:

http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263457/NCMP_schools_guidance__FINAL___2_.pdf


It clearly states: 'developing and disseminating a pre-measurement letter to parents. The NCMP is operated on an opt-out basis, so local authorities must ensure that parents are given adequate opportunity to withdraw their child from the programme. Some areas do this by liaising with schools to disseminate a letter through the pupil post (see Annex 1 for an example of this letter)

mumtosix

The general health checks, ie dental, hearing & sight are complusory health checks via your local authority, you will need to opt out if you don't want them. The school have no obligation to let you know when they are being done.

The weight /height measurement in reception & yr6 again are an opt out check but you will be informed by letter via the school that they will be done.

Hth

surreysaver

FBaby wrote: »

The NCMP is operated on an opt-out basis, so local authorities must ensure that parents are given adequate opportunity to withdraw their child from the programme.

That's the NCMP. Not health checks. Two different things. Same principle, though, and wrong.

surreysaver

mumtosix wrote: »

The general health checks, ie dental, hearing & sight are complusory health checks via your local authority,

Compulsory? Since when? And if you can opt out, that makes them not compulsory!

surreysaver

The other issue is, if it is opt out, then the healthcare 'professionals' have your data. If it was opt-in, then they would only have the details of the children who had consented, not those who didn't. So also a data-gathering exercise....

FBaby

surreysaver wrote: »

That's the NCMP. Not health checks. Two different things. Same principle, though, and wrong.

Not it isn't different. The NCMP (National Child Measurement Programme) is part of the healthcheck programme. You might not like the principle, but you have been misleading and patronizing people on this thread by shouting that parents should be asked for consent rather than opting out when most of this thread has been about the weighting of children.

mumtosix

Surreysaver, I don't make the rules, the government does. I have just related what the school told me today. The health checks are there, opting out is a parental choice.