Support for children under 5

Part of: Healthy children and young people

Healthy Start

We want to support you and your baby to have the best start in life. The Healthy Start scheme offers vitamins and support with feeding your baby. If you are eligible for healthy start, you can access prenatal vitamins and vitamin drops for you and your baby from birth up to 4 years old. The scheme also provides access to buy healthy food and milk for your baby.

Healthy Child Programme

Health visitors play a crucial role in ensuring children have the best possible start in life, and lead delivery of the 0-5 elements of the Healthy Child Programme in partnership with other health and social care colleagues. The service is delivered through home visits, contact in the community and telephone calls as necessary.

Start for Life offer

We believe that every child has the right to the ‘best start in life’ and this starts during pre-conception, pregnancy and the early years. Information on the support available for your child under 5 in the Start for Life offer.

Immunisations

Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent many infectious diseases. Immunisations are carried out at different stages of your child`s life. NHS vaccinations and when to have them.

National Child Measurement Programme

The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) is a nationally mandated public health programme. It measures the height and weight of children in Reception class (aged 4 to 5) and year 6 (aged 10 to 11), to assess overweight and obesity levels in children within primary schools.

It provides the data for the child excess weight indicators in the Public Health Outcomes Framework and is part of the government’s approach to tackling child obesity.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities provides strategic leadership and support for this programme, and local authorities deliver it.