More children in Nanstallon all set for Brighter Smiles
Pupils in reception and year one classes at Nanstallon Community Primary School will be improving their oral health thanks to the support of Matt Robinson of Robinson Contractor Ltd.
Building on existing delivery of Brighter Smiles – Cornwall’s oral health campaign – in the neighbouring Nanstallon Pre-School, which is funded by Cornwall Council, Matt’s support will enable the oral health team to sustain activity as those children progress through their early years at the school. They will set up toothbrushing clubs in the reception class, apply fluoride varnishing to the teeth of reception and year 1 pupils, and deliver oral health education to those pupils with home education packs for them all.
Matt’s support sees his company join a growing group of organisations committed to reversing the continuing trend of avoidable tooth extractions from children in Cornwall – a serious public health issue which sees around 20 children aged 5-9 admitted to hospital each week to have their teeth removed under general anaesthetic. It is the number one reason for hospital admissions amongst the age group but 100% avoidable, according to campaigners.
According to Ben Stephenson, Head Teacher at Nanstallon Community Primary School “We understand the importance of working together with our local community and are very grateful to Matt Robinson for his generous support in bringing the Brighter Smiles programme further into our school community. I’m very new in post here but have seen the effect poor oral health can have on school attendance and pupils’ concentration, so I’m looking forward to seeing how these fun oral health activities will make a positive difference here”.
Matt Robinson, director of Robinson Contractor Ltd, said: “Smile Together have been a client of mine for a number of years and over that time I have followed the progress and impact of their Brighter Smiles programme with great interest. I have seen what a difference their activity can make to children’s oral health and decided it was time for me to help extend this support close to Bodmin, where much of my work has been focused. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing first-hand the wonderful school community that I have the privilege of now supporting”.
Paul Critchley, managing director at Smile Together, creators of the Brighter Smiles campaign, explained: “Whilst our contract with Cornwall Council has already helped over 1000 children in the most vulnerable areas of the county, there is still a significant amount of work to do in order to reverse this worrying trend. We are extremely appreciative of Matt’s support in enabling Brighter Smiles to reach out to even more children in Cornwall.”
In addition to Cornwall Council and Robinson Contractor Ltd,Brighter Smiles is backed by a number of other supporters such as Imerys, Fuel and Ocean Housing. In the past 12 months over 40 schools and children’s centres have taken part in the initiative with positive feedback from pupils, parents and carers and the schools themselves. There are 280 schools in Cornwall.
