Health in early years
What does good health at the age of 5 look like?
We describe a healthy 5-year-old as a child who:
- Has had all their vaccinations
- Is a healthy weight
- Has healthy teeth with no cavities
- Is ready to learn
A range of other health outcomes is also monitored in the early years of life in order to for us to track and improve the health and wellbeing of young children in the borough. This includes outcomes such as accidents and non-intentional injuries, hospital admissions, infant mortality, low birth weight and oral health.
What factors can impact health in children up to the age of 5?
Accidents are preventable events, yet they remain a major cause of bad health and serious disability in children. We need to lower the number of injuries happening as a result of accidents in the borough. We can do this at a low cost through parental education and local coordination.
Good oral health is essential for children’s overall health and wellbeing. Tooth decay is almost always preventable but is high in children who live in deprived areas.
Statistics on health for children up to the age of 5
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) - Early years health profiles - OHID produces a number of reports and resources on child and maternal health which can be accessed through their data and analysis tools portal. These profiles include data on hospital admissions, oral health, low birth weight and obesity in reception.
- NHS Digital - Maternal, infant and child health Indicators- NHS Digital publishes provider-level data for community services statistics as well as Integrated Care System (ICS) level outcomes indicators that cover some of the themes in this topic.
Guidance for child health in children up to the age of 5
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) – Giving every child the best start in life guidance - OHID produced this guidance aimed at increasing the proportion of children who are ready to learn at age 2 and ready for school at age 5. It includes information on oral health, nutrition, preventing injuries and physical activity.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance - Children and young people - there are various NICE guidance products relating to health in children and young people including information on unintentional injuries, obesity and health and wellbeing in early years.
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) – Healthy beginnings: applying All Our Health - evidence and guidance to help healthcare professionals provide early intervention for children and reduce long term health and social costs.