Hollingworth Primary reception pupils win Smile Month poster competition

Reception pupils at Hollingworth Primary School have been named winners of a borough-wide competition held in celebration of National Smile Month.

The competition, organised by Tameside Council’s Public Health team, invited children aged 5 to 7 from across the area to design eye-catching posters showing how they take care of their teeth. The entries from Hollingworth Primary’s Reception class stood out to judges for their vibrant designs and strong oral health messages.

As part of their prize, the school received an oral health goody bag filled with educational tools and resources to encourage good dental hygiene. The package included books, a demonstration puppet, a giant toothbrush and teeth model, as well as materials designed to help families reinforce healthy habits at home.

The initiative was part of National Smile Month, which ran from 12 May to 12 June. The campaign highlights essential oral health messages, such as brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, limiting sugary foods and drinks, and making regular visits to the dentist.

These messages are particularly relevant in Tameside, where more than a quarter of children are affected by tooth decay in their baby teeth — a rate that exceeds the national average. The competition aimed to raise awareness and encourage young children and their families to adopt positive dental habits from an early age.

Cllr Taf Sharif, Tameside Council Executive Member for Population Health and Wellbeing, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the Reception pupils at Hollingworth Primary – their posters are not only creative, but they also carry such an important message about looking after our smiles. Oral health is a vital part of a child’s overall wellbeing, and it’s heartening to see young children leading the way in spreading that message. I hope their work inspires families across Tameside to build strong, healthy habits together – because every child deserves to grow up with a happy, healthy smile.”

To find a local dentist, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/.
For more oral health advice, visit: https://www.tameside.gov.uk/health/oralhealth.

If a school or nursery is teaching children about the importance of good oral health, Tameside Council’s Public Health team can provide free educational resources to support classroom learning. Children aged 3–5 years will receive a dental pack to take home.

The team also offers a free supervised toothbrushing scheme for local schools and nurseries. For more information, contact lynn.callaghan@tameside.gov.uk.