Headteachers’ leaders have criticised new Labour plans to introduce supervised toothbrushing in schools across England.
In his first policy announcement ahead of the party’s annual conference in Liverpool, leader Sir Keir Starmer said a Labour government would introduce a new package of proposals aimed at “rescuing NHS dentistry” that would see the introduction of supervised toothbrushing in schools.
Under the plans, Labour would seek to tackle preventable tooth decay in children with a programme to help three- to five-year-olds form healthy brushing habits, the party said.
However, headteachers’ leaders have voiced “serious reservations about how such a policy could even work”.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union the NAHT, said: ”This week, we have seen guidance on mobile phones from government and a new dentistry duty from the opposition.
“This is not the immediate response needed to solve the mounting crises in school. We need to see greater ambition in the short, medium and long term.
“We have serious reservations about how such a policy could even work. It is not the role of teachers to be making sure children brush their teeth each day.”
‘Window dressing’
Mr Whiteman said that schools already play a role in teaching children about the importance of looking after their teeth through the curriculum, but there had to be a limit “in terms of what we can expect them to do”.
“We should demand more than window dressing from all of our politicians,” he added.
Labour’s dentistry plans also include an extra 700,000 urgent dentist appointments. People in most need of treatments including fillings and root canal work would be prioritised.
Chris Groombridge, chairman of the charity Teeth Team, said: “As a charity dedicated to providing dental education in schools, we all too often see tooth decay that is largely preventable.
“We therefore welcome Labour’s commitment to a toothbrushing programme for three- to five-year-olds to help them form healthy habits and protect kids’ teeth.”
