Schools – Awesome Oral Health

Our Story

The government funded School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) supplies fresh produce to schools for snack times. Unfortunately, the logistics of the scheme mean that there are 6 days a year where fresh is replaced by raisins and sultanas.

Like processed fruit snacks, they are marketed as “natural” with “no added sugar”, teachers, children and caregivers often believe that they are a healthy snack.

They are permitted in some whole school policies allowing them to be brought onto the playground by all pupils as snacks every day, increasing the risk of dental caries.

Tooth extraction as a result of dental decay is the most common reason for hospital admissions in the 5-9 year old age group, costing the NHS over £30 million a year. The majority of children miss at least 2 school days for hospital appointments and recovery, because of this usually preventable disease.

Sending out the wrong message?

Dental advice from Public Health England is to keep dried fruits to mealtimes to lower the risk of tooth decay - Click To Read More

Raisin Awareness is a step forward to reduce the risk of tooth decay amongst the children in these schools.

The Raisin Awareness Project offers a whole school approach to promoting Oral Health covering many aspects as suggested in the NICE pathway while saving the school staff time and energy. https://pathways.nice.org.uk/
The Raisin Swap is a practical demonstration of integrating oral health as part of wider healthy eating choices and stimulates discussion. Reviewing snack policies and encouraging tooth-friendly options both in and out of the playground, will lead to compliance with Dept for Education guidance School food standards.
Literature content is designed to support children’s awareness of oral health including short engaging videos that can be played in assembly to highlight and reinforce the positive messages sent home. Each edition has a familiar structure but a different focus, ensuring that key dental messages are covered throughout the school year.
Campaigning with food and farming partners to change government policy by 2024 to remove dried fruits from the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme and expand the SFVS to older children, using more British produce. Our petition is calling on ministers to make these positive changes. Sign & share today. Be part of the change.

Supported By

Discover the benefits of linking up with your local dental practice

Benefits to the School wider Community

Positive Relationships

Connecting Locally

Linking up with a local dental practice providing a positive image of the dental profession to build trust and underlining the importance of regular check-ups for everyone

Positive Relationships

Free Material

Oral Health Literature

Delivering regular, free of charge, evidence-based OH literature in a fun way to all families in each school, reaching even those who don't see a dentist

Free Material

Professional Engagement

Classroom Visits

Opportunity to invite dental professionals in (great fun as well as educational) Thus, covering suggestions on Promoting Oral Health found in:

Oral health - Help for early years providers - GOV.UK

Professional Engagement

Improving Oral Health

Reducing risk of Tooth decay

Funding fresh vegetable alternatives to dried fruit snacks on the first day of every half term, supporting tooth-friendly changes to school snack policies and educating how best to take care of their teeth and mouths at home

Improving Oral Health

"It's a great idea and very easy to administer."

"Give it a go. The children will suprise you"

"There is less packaging in the playground after break."

Is your School?

Receiving School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) produce for KS1 pupils
Interested in improving the oral health of children and families
Keen to supply evidence-based literature from registered dental professionals at no cost to you
Ready to see the benefits from developing a relationship with a local dental practice

Our Mission 2022

We aim to get 100 Schools and 100 Dental practices linked promoting oral health messages together.

We also want to get 1000 signatures on our petition to make the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme bigger and better in a number of ways.

We Aim to have 100 Schools involved by end of 2022

Linking together for healthier smiles 2%

We Aim to have 100 Dental Practices linked by end 2022

Linking together for healthier smiles 2%

We Aim to have 1000 Signatures by end 2022

Bigger and Better School Fruit and Veg 16%

Time to get Involved?

Primary School
Enquiries

Meet our Team

THE PROFESSIONALS Supporting the campaign

Started by passionate dental nurse and mum, Jo Dawson, the Raisin Awareness project has gained support from National Dental Bodies who are keen to add their voices to the campaign. We are honoured to have a wealth of expertise and dedicated professionals on the Raisin Awareness Advisory Board.