Nursery practitioners achieve new oral health qualification

‘Supervised Toothbrushing in Nurseries and Schools’, backed by the ‘National Toothbrushing Standards’, is a Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level 6 national work based award. It supports Childsmile, a national oral health initiative aimed at reducing inequalities in the standard of oral health and access to oral care for children.

South Lanarkshire College piloted this optional element of the nursery practitioner qualification in the second half of 2015 and earlier this year.  Ninety students enrolled in the Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Early Education and Childcare took part.  By the end of 2016, it is anticipated that 190 child care students will have completed the oral health module and achieved the SCQF qualification.

Lynda McBain, curriculum manager of the Faculty of Care at South Lanarkshire College explained: “Our desire to deliver this unit came as a result of an employer engagement session at which our nursery partners believed there was a need for students to be trained in Childsmile practices.