B4 offers child WOF check

Kindy or preschool is designed to prepare children for the transition to primary school, but there are also steps parents and carers can take at home to make the move smoother and easier.

One of these steps is the B4 School Check.

In New Zealand, every four-year-old child is entitled to this free health and development check, which is the eighth and final of the Well Child health checks.

It’s a good idea for children to have their B4 School Check soon after their fourth birthday. This leaves enough time for the child to get any help needed before they start school.

The check is carried out by a nurse and normally takes about 45 minutes. The nurse will explain what happens at the check and will ask the parent/guardian for their consent before starting the check.

It also provides an opportunity for parents to talk to the nurse about their child and anything that may be worrying them.

It is recommended that parents look at the B4 School Check pages in the My Health Book (https://www.healthed.govt.nz/resource/well-child-tamariki-ora-my-health-book) for ideas of issues to talk about.

Prior to the check, a parent is asked to fill out questionnaires about their child’s development and wellbeing. If the child goes to a preschool, kindergarten or kōhanga reo, they will also be asked about their child’s learning and development.

The check will cover the child’s height and weight, teeth, immunisation status, learning and development, and general health and wellbeing. A vision and hearing technician will also check the child’s sight and hearing, but this may happen at a different time to the rest of the B4 School Check.