The NSW Government is rolling out free health checks for 4-year-old children at their preschool or long day care service to make it easier for families to get health and development checks for their children.
Health professionals will check children's health and development, such as:
- their listening and talking skills
- their social skills and behaviour
- their gross and fine motor skills
- their learning, thinking and problem-solving skills
- how their bodies are growing: vision, hearing, height, weight, and teeth.
Parental Consent from a parent or carer is needed. They will need to sign the consent form when it arrives, to make sure their child gets their free check.
Parents will receive a report after their child's check. It will have information on how they can keep supporting their growth and development.
Opt in and spread the Word
ECEC services are invited to participate in the program. If you opt-in, there are some resources for you to share with families with 4-year-old children to let them know about this exciting program. These include:
• information sheet
• newsletter
• poster
Q: What do ECEC services need to do if they opt-in?
Your local health district will contact you to discuss bringing the program into your service. They will also work with you to deliver the checks.
Once ECEC services have agreed to participate in the program, they are encouraged to share the information sheet and newsletter with eligible families and display the poster in their service. Educators will be responsible for distributing and collecting the signed consent form from families.
Q: Do ECEC services need to do anything during the checks?
Educators will support children during the checks. Where families have consented, educators can share information on the child’s development with the visiting health professional.
Q: Do ECEC services need to do anything after the check?
Families will receive information on how they can keep supporting their child’s growth and development. This might include further support
from health professionals and ECEC staff. Where families have given consent, health professionals may share information with educators
on how they can support that child’s development in their service.
For more information: NSW Health
