The Bay of Plenty District Health Board has met its national target of 90 per cent for B4 School Checks.

Nearly 3000 Bay of Plenty preschool children have received B4 School Checks this year.

More children are receiving before-school checks.

The B4 School Check is a nationwide programme offering a free health and development check for four-year-olds.

It aims to identify and address any health, behavioural, social or developmental concerns which could affect a child's ability to get the most benefit from school.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board has this year delivered the checks to 2801 children. That is 305 more than last year. The checks concentrate on those children most in need.

A Ministry of Health target for the delivery of B4 School Checks has progressively increased during the last four years.

In 2012/2013 it required every DHB to reach 80 per cent of eligible children. By 2013/2014 this had risen to 90 per cent. The BOPDHB has met the MOH target each year.

BOPDHB child and youth planning and funding portfolio manager Johnny Louie says the success of meeting the target meant a bottom line of helping more children stay healthy.

'Child healthcare is a priority and this is an important check, particularly for those higher-needs populations. The B4 School Check is a comprehensive screening programme, which promotes health and wellbeing in preschool children. It ensures any issues detected do not adversely affect a child's ability to learn.

'The success of this programme and the number of children we have been able to reach through it is a reflection of great leadership throughout the system, from the frontline services to those working behind the scenes.

'That work has meant we've been able to hone in on what is really important; the health of our young children.”