Reimagining the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)

Improving the NCMP for better child health outcomes.

The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) is one of the few universal touchpoints for child health in the UK, offering a unique opportunity to engage with families and children in a meaningful and proactive way about their health. Yet, despite its broad reach and potential, the programme remains underutilised as a tool for genuine intervention.

Traditionally, the NCMP letter has served as a standardised notification to parents about their child’s weight status. While informative, it often lacks practical, community specific guidance. Recognising the well established link between weight and mental wellbeing, and the growing crisis in children’s mental health, we believe it is crucial to reimagine how this touchpoint is used.

Research from RCPCH’s Voice Matters initiative which engaged with over 630 children across the U.K, clearly demonstrates that children have a clear understanding of what keeps them healthy, happy, and well. The children identified that food and drink, emotional well-being, and access to places to go and things to do as the top three factors influencing their health.

Crucially when asked what should be prioritised to improve health and services, the children’s top response was: “Help to make healthy choices to stay healthy, happy, and well.” This highlights a critical gap:  information alone is not enough; children need practical support to turn their knowledge into action.

Our conversations with child healthcare professionals involved in child screening programmes, have reinforced this message: 

• Families need more than just information, they need guidance and access to practical, local support.

  
  

• Children understand what keeps them healthy but often struggle to access the resources they need to act on that knowledge.

  
  

• Healthcare professionals need a more efficient, proactive way to offer local help and resources from within the software systems they already use.

We’ve developed a solution, in collaboration with RCPCH, that transforms the NCMP letter from a passive notification into a proactive intervention that actively supports children. By harnessing the power of RCPCH’s groundbreaking Growth API, our child screening software generates customisable letters that deliver accurate growth information and connect children and families with personalised, actionable local support.

Instead of a static, one-size-fits-all letter, our child-centred approach allows child healthcare professionals to:

• Shift from passive to proactive communication, offering children and their families actionable, local support and guidance.

  
  

• Signpost services beyond weight management, connecting children to mental health support and community youth initiatives.

  
  

• Reduce health inequalities by providing tailored support to children in underserved areas.

This innovation is powered by the RCPCH Growth API, the recognised gold standard for child growth data in the UK. Developed by a multidisciplinary team of leading experts, the API guarantees clinically assured, accurate, and evidence-based data.

"Cinnamon have shown the power that open clinical APIs can have, integrating our data into a wholly new product and not just traditional child growth charts. By developing software in the open and working in tight iterative loops with our customers, RCPCH ensures best practice is available and usable where it is needed most”. 

Michael Barton, RCPCH Lead Developer

By integrating the RCPCH Growth API, our child screening software can:

• Automatically identify children who are underweight or overweight, triggering the creation of a customisable letter.

  
  

• Ensure the accuracy and reliability of health data, thanks to the API’s rigorous clinical oversight.

  
  

• Provide NHS trusts with a seamless, efficient solution, enabling them to offer local, community-based support directly within the software, reducing manual workloads while maintaining consistency and quality in health communication.

Our collaboration with RCPCH demonstrates the impact of combining technology, research, and healthcare expertise to create impactful solutions. By leveraging RCPCH’s Growth API, we’ve developed child screening software that truly prioritises children and families.

“Growth is the most sensitive measure of health in children so collecting measurements at different timepoints is key to describing children’s health. By using the RCPCH API, measurements collected in different settings can be interpreted meaningfully as Cinnamon has shown according to a single standard, to tailor advice and guidance to children, young people and their families about their health”

Dr Simon Chapman, Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology, Kings College Hospital

At Cinnamon Digital Applications, we are committed to creating healthcare software that makes a tangible difference in children’s lives. Our bespoke NCMP letter feature within our child screening software marks a significant step forward, transforming a routine screening process into a meaningful opportunity for engagement and proactive support.

This advancement would not have been possible without RCPCH’s pioneering work in developing, refining, and sharing their Growth API. By providing access to this vital resource. RCPCH is setting a new standard for digital healthcare solutions, and we are proud to be part of this transformative journey.

Learn more about how our child screening software with bespoke NCMP letter feature can support your child healthcare team to provide more effective and personalised care for children and families. Visit our child screening info page or contact us today.