NHS Supervised Toothbrushing Scheme
At Home Dental were commissioned in 2023 to deliver a three-year supervised toothbrushing campaign across designated primary schools in the South West. At Home Dental deliver this through their ‘Big Brush Club’ to more than 1,000 educational settings across the region.
This evidence-based intervention adopts a simple but effective focus on establishing preventative routines which foster long-term benefits.
This NHS contract covers 7 ICB regions, spanning Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. In the space of 12 months, At Home Dental has successfully mobilised and onboarded over 50,000 children.
Prevalence and severity of tooth decay in children is closely linked to levels of deprivation, which is why Big Brush Club targets 3–5-year-old children based in areas of an Index of Multiple Deprivation measurement of 1-6.
Big Brush Competition
To raise awareness of this scheme we have launched the Big Brush Competition which will run from February 2025 through until May 2025.
Big Brush Competition – join in by colouring and/or singing
Primary school pupils from across the South West are invited to either colour in one of the Big Brush Club mascots (see colouring sheets below) and/or sing part of the Big Brush Club toothbrushing song as an individual, group, class or school entry.
Colouring
Pupils can download their chosen mascot to colour in, colour it in and then get their teacher/parent or guardian to scan or take a photo. Colouring sheets to choose from:
Singing
Pupils can enter individually, as a group, class or school and are invited to record their version of the Big Brush Club toothbrushing song – anything from 5 up to 30 seconds in duration.
How to enter
To enter, all schools must share their entry online (photo of the colouring sheet(s) or video of the song being sung) using their existing website or social media platforms, tagging:
- @NHSSW;
- @BigBrushClub;
- and add the competition hashtag #bigbrushcompetition
Once posted online, schools need to return a competition entry form to let us know they are taking part.
If you need help submitting your entry contact england.swcomms@nhs.net
Competition deadline
Entries must be received no later than 23:59 on Friday 30 May, 2025
Prizes – What is up for grabs?
The child, pair, group or class who submits the winning entry, will receive a £50 Amazon voucher. The school at which they attend will also receive a selection of oral health goodies.
This applies to the colouring competition winner too, the winner will receive a £50 Amazon voucher and their school will receive a selection of oral health goodies.
Winners
- Overall winner(s) will have their submissions (song and/or drawings) showcased across NHS England website and social channels. They will also be awarded a certificate.
- A digital ‘well done’ certificate will be sent to those who weren’t chosen as a winner.
Judging criteria
Our expert panel of judges are looking forward to seeing your pupils’ fantastic competition entries.
Singing and colouring entries will be picked at random to appear throughout the duration of the competition to encourage additional entries. By publishing your creations and submitting an entry form, you are consenting to your entries being used to promote the Big Brush Competition.
The colouring competition will be split into age categories and, for the singing competition will be at the discretion of the judges.
Competition terms and conditions:
- The competition is open to pupils in nursery, reception and year one in all primary schools, in the South West region.
- Pupils can enter individually for the colouring competition and based on the number of entries, will be split in ages 3-4 and 5 and above categories. The singing competition is open to either individual, groups, classes or schools.
- There is no restriction on the number of entries received from schools or individual pupils.
- Submissions are to be made online only using the school website or social channels and should be confirmed on this page via the ENTRY FORM.
- Entries will only be accepted once all compulsory competition requirements have been included.
- The closing date for the competition is 23:59 on Friday 30 May 2025.
- One winner will be chosen from the South West region for the colouring competition and one winner for the singing competition.
- The child, pair, group or class who submits the winning entry, will receive a £50 Amazon voucher. The school at which they attend will also receive a selection of oral health goodies. This applies to the colouring competition winner too, the winner will receive a £50 Amazon voucher and their school will receive a selection of oral health goodies.
- Digital certificates will be sent to the teachers for all pupils who were not selected as the winners.
- There is no cash alternative for any prize in this competition.
- We will aim to notify winning schools in writing by mid-June 2025.
- Winners will be listed on the South West Regional pages of the NHS England website and social channels in July 2025.
- NHS England reserves the right to reproduce and utilise in whole or in part the entries submitted by pupils for information, publicity and promotional purposes. By entering, each school agrees to secure parental agreement and authorises the use of names and addresses of the establishment to which it belongs and the names of participating teachers and pupils in any information, publicity or promotional activity linked to this competition.
- Entering this competition implies full and complete acceptance of these terms and conditions of which entry instructions form a part. Promoter: NHS England South West. Registered address: Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2PX.
If you have any questions or need help entering the competition, contact us england.swcomms@nhs.net