Children attending selected Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes in West Berkshire this summer are learning how to look after their teeth through a new pilot scheme promoting healthy habits.

The initiative, delivered by West Berkshire Council, Community Dental Services CIC (CDS) and HAF providers, includes education sessions and free toothbrushing packs to encourage healthy habits at home, with plans for a wider rollout in the future.

Councillor Patrick Clark, West Berkshire Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, visited a Funtastic Kids West Berks HAF session at St Joseph’s Primary School this week, where children took part in fun activities led by CDS employees. The children learned why brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and making healthy food and drink choices helps protect their teeth.

Councillor Patrick Clark said: “I enjoyed visiting St Joseph’s and seeing the children learning about oral health in such an engaging and enjoyable way. These sessions are a great introduction to healthy habits and our supervised toothbrushing programme is helping to reinforce those messages throughout the year. Together, they’re giving more children across West Berkshire the best possible start when it comes to their oral health.”

The HAF pilot forms part of West Berkshire Council’s wider work to improve children’s oral health across the district.

Jennifer Baitup, Strategic Oral Health Lead for CDS said: “Tooth decay is the leading cause of child hospital admissions in England and is a serious health issue that can have a lasting impact on children’s oral and general health. It affects their confidence, wellbeing, and ability to take part in everyday activities such as attending nursery or school – yet it is entirely preventable. Through our work with West Berkshire Council, we are delighted to deliver programmes that support children to build healthy habits and positive oral health skills that will benefit them for life.”

During term time, the Council commissions a supervised toothbrushing programme, delivered by CDS, which supports children aged three to five in early years and school settings. Additional public health investment will support the expansion of this work over the coming year, alongside further community-based initiatives.

By helping children develop healthy habits from an early age, West Berkshire Council and its partners are giving more young people the best possible start and laying the foundations for healthier futures.