Early Years (0-5) development checks
During your child's early years they will have regular health and development checks and reviews to make sure they are staying healthy and developing normally. In these reviews your child's hearing, weight, language, learning skills and growth will be checked.
To find out more about what happens at your child’s reviews visit the NHS website .
Once your child is at school, they will be measured as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP).
Top tips
1. Take your child's 'red book', to your baby's appointments (it's a handy way for you and professionals to keep track of your child's health and progress).
2.You can ask your child's health visitor for an 'ages and stages' appointment to identify any concerns that might need addressing.
3. You can email any questions to earlyyears@herefordshire.gov.uk
3.If you require further support following the receipt of your child’s National Child Measurement programme results letter visit Better Health.
4.For more tips and information to help your child stay healthy visit Start4Lifeor visit our healthy eating, being active and looking after your teeth pages.
Your baby will usually have reviews at the ages listed below.
The reviews are usually done by your health visitor or a member of their team. They may be done in your home or at the GP surgery, baby clinic or children's centre.
- Shortly after birth
- One to two weeks
- Six to eight weeks
- Nine months to one year
- Two to two-and-a-half years
When your child reaches two years old, it's an ideal time to see how well they're doing and assess their future needs. So, to get a complete picture of their progress, we do an 'integrated review' This involves developmental checks and regular meetings between those involved with your child's development, such as their health visitor, childcare provider and children's centre (if applicable).
By sharing this information, it is much easier to identify any issues and to make sure your child gets access to the right services. All this is only ever done with your consent as a parent or carer.
If your child is two or three and goes to an early years childcare provider, like a nursery or childminder, they have to have what is called an Early Years Foundation Stage progress check. If you agree, the details of this will be shared with your child's health visitor.
Every year children in reception and year 6 are weighed and measured at school. The information is used by the NHS and Local Authority to plan and provide better health services for children.
To find out what happens in the programme and why it is important that your child is measured visit the National Child Measurement Programme page on the NHS website.