Schools and Early Years Settings
Schools and Early Years Settings
Supervised Toothbrushing Scheme
View moreThe Supervised Toothbrushing Programme helps children aged 2–5 develop healthy toothbrushing habits and supports better oral health from an early age. Funded by the Department for Health and Social Care, the programme is available to early years settings across Kirklees and is designed to fit easily into your daily routine.
Tooth decay is one of the most common health problems affecting young children and can lead to pain, disrupted sleep, missed learning opportunities and hospital treatment. By making toothbrushing part of the nursery or school day, we can help children build positive habits that can last a lifetime.
We provide everything your setting needs to take part, including:
- Free toothbrushes, toothpaste and storage systems
- Staff training and ongoing support
- Resources to help make brushing fun and engaging
- Quality assurance visits and guidance from our Oral Health Team
- Additional support for children with SEND
- Toothbrushing packs for children to take home during school holidays
Children brush their teeth once a day under staff supervision using age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste. The programme is simple to deliver, safe, effective and can be adapted to suit the needs of your setting.
By taking part, your setting can help children develop healthy smiles, reduce the risk of tooth decay and give them a better start in life.
Interested in joining the programme? Contact the Home-Start Kirklees Oral Health Team at [email protected] to find out more and receive everything you need to get started.
School Readiness Sessions
View moreWe will deliver a 2-hour session, to a group of parents/carers, which includes time at the end for questions, discussion, and tailored advice.
The session focuses on how parents/carers can promote and support their child to become school ready. This includes developing key life skills such as increasing independence, using the toilet confidently, washing hands, getting dressed and undressed, and eating with a knife and fork.
We will explore ways to support children’s emotional development, helping them build confidence and cope with being away from their parents or carers.
The session also highlights the importance of play, creativity, and curiosity in early development.
A strong focus is placed on communication and language, including how children can express their needs effectively. Parents will learn practical ways to support this through interaction, stimulation, and reducing screen time.
We will also cover the importance of healthy routines, clear boundaries, and creating opportunities for meaningful play and learning.
Our staff will bring a “school readiness” resource bag containing a range of engaging items and activities designed to support and stimulate children’s development. We will show parents/carers how all of this can be achieved with no budget whatsoever.
At the end of the session, staff are available for advice and signposting. They will take a referral for further sessions in the family home if this is appropriate.
We can provide a poster for advertising the session to support you to get parents/carers engaged with this.
To access this service, or book a session at your venue, please contact Sarah Christian 01484 421925/07710030057, or email at [email protected]
