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Screen time guidance for parents of under 5 year olds

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Screen time guidance for parents of under 5 year olds

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Baby and toddler screen time guidance - Best Start in Life

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Guidance for parents on managing screen time for under 5s. Learn what’s recommended and how to build healthy habits from an early age.

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If you would like to read any policies that are not in this Policy Book, please speak to Sarah.

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10 tips to support children with self-regulation

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10 tips to support children with self-regulation

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Online safety tips for parents of pre-school children

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Online safety tips for parents of pre-school children

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Parents Protect helps parents and carers protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation by providing child safety resources.

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A collection of six stories exploring life online for 3-7 year olds.

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Join in with Mummy Penguin's song and follow the adventures of Smartie the Penguin as he learns how to be safe on the internet.

We provide two versions of the story each for EYFS, Year 1 and Year 2.

The first version of story covers the following themes:

1. Pop ups and in app purchasing

2. Inappropriate websites for older children

3. Cyberbullying

The second version of the story covers the following themes:

1. Upsetting images

2. Unreliable information

3. Talking to strangers online

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10 tips for supporting young people to build emotional resilience

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10 tips for supporting young people to build emotional resilience

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Our Paediatric Trained first aiders are:

Sarah Hennessy

Liz Case

Laura Hemsley

Sharon Bristow

Laura Boyle

Emma Keeler

Bet Heys

Ellie Cahill-Jones

Ali Llewellyn-Jones

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Zebedees Hot Lunch v Packed Lunch Poster

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Helpful video for tooth brushing

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The Tooth Brushing Song 🪥🎵 | Toddler Learning | Songs for Kids | Hey Duggee

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Parents and Carers - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Tips, advice, guides and resources to help keep your child safe online

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CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFEGUARDING POLICY Sept 2025

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 Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

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 Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

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25 CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFEGUARDING POLICY

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Mr Lochan-Grimer

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Sarah Hennessy

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Mrs Sam Twilley

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Liz Case

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Mr Leighton Morgan

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Deputy Safeguarding Lead & Designated teacher for Looked after Children

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Deputy Safeguarding Lead & Designated teacher for Looked after Children

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Mrs Miriam Harley

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Mrs Jenny Pitman

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How to manage what your children watch on TV

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How to manage what your children watch on TV

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How to manage what your children watch on TV

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How to set up parental controls for Apps iphone

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Parental controls for android phone apps

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Parental controls for android phone apps

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How to set up parental controls for Apps android

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ESCC Child protection regulations - letter to parents

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ESCC Child protection regulations - letter to parents

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Babies cry, you can cope When babies cry it can be stressful and overwhelming. Help is out there and all you need to do is ask. Latest news Testimonials

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The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families

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Buy safe toys | Child Accident Prevention Trust

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Don’t get caught out buying dangerous toys. Discover all you need to know about buying toys safely and risky toys to avoid.

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Top 10 toy safety tips

1. Buy toys only from reputable outlets - look for the CE symbol or a UKCA mark

2. Make sure the toy is suitable for the child - check the age range

3. Be particularly careful with toys for children under three

4. Be wary of young children playing with older children's toys

5. Check for loose hair and small parts, sharp edges and points

6. Ensure that garden swings and slides are robust and are not a strangulation hazard

7. Check toys regularly for wear and repair or dispose of them where necessary

8. Keep play areas tidy

9. Follow the instructions and warnings provided with toys

10. Supervise young children at play

Play is not risk-free - and nor should it be - but we can control most of the hazards children are exposed to. Toys must be safe by law, but how they are used and the age of the child are important factors in preventing accidents.
Many accidents involving toys occur when people trip over them and when babies play with toys intended for older children.

Toy safety advice

Although illegal, unsafe toys can still be found on sale so it is vital to shop with care.

Look for the CE symbol and UKCA mark.
This is a claim by the manufacturer that the toy meets regulatory requirements and applies in England, Scotland and Wales. In the case of Nothern Ireland, look for the CE symbol. You may also see the UKNI mark along with the CE symbol. Products which don't include these marks/symbols may not be intended to be used as toys, but are novelties which may not be safe for children to play with

Also look for the voluntary British Toy and Hobby Association's (BTHA) 'Lion Mark'.
A condition of BTHA trade association membership is that members' toys will meet the statutory safety requirements

Buy from suppliers with a good reputation for safe and reliable toys. Many will be members of trade associations whose rules call on them to meet high standards

If buying toys from a jumble sale or car boot sale, extra care needs to be taken

Make sure the toys are suitable. Some children, particularly those under three, are more vulnerable, especially to choking, and less able to cope with some toys than older children. It should also be remembered there will be significant differences in the abilities of those in the same age group, and those children with special needs.

Avoid the following:

Toys with loose pile fabric or hair which sheds easily, presenting a choking hazard

Toys with small components or parts which detach

Toys with sharp points and edges or finger traps

Loose ribbons on toys and long neck ties on children's costumes

Small toys sold with items of food

Check toys periodically to see that they have not become dangerously worn, revealing sharp points and edges or filling materials. Throw them away if they are no longer safe, or if they are a particular favourite with your child have them properly repaired

Children under three should never be allowed to play with toys which are marked as being unsuitable for them. With some toys it is important to supervise children during play, e.g. chemistry sets. The instructions must be observed and should warn you about all the hazards and how to avoid or control them

Encourage children to play with one toy at a time, to be tidy and put toys away after play. This applies whether at home or at school or playgroup. Many accidents are caused by people tripping over toys left lying around, particularly on staircases.

Did you know?
Sales of toys are governed by strict regulations to protect young children from choking - but Christmas novelties are not, and should not be given to children to play with.

Take a look at our information on Christmas novelties.

Battery safety

Many toys are battery-powered. Problems can occur, however, if the batteries are not used correctly, so follow our battery safety tips:

Always take care to fit batteries the right way round, observing the + and - marks on the battery and compartment

When replacing batteries, use the same type and always replace a complete set

Always remove spent batteries from toys and never dispose of them in such a way that they will come into contact with fire

Store unused batteries in their packaging and away from metal objects which may cause them to short circuit

Never charge ordinary batteries either in a charger or by applying heat to them

Small batteries, such as the small disc-shaped batteries used in some watches, electronic games and hearing aids, present a choking danger or, if not caught early, can do serious damage to the gastrointestinal system. Never leave them lying around and make sure that children know not to put them in their mouths, ears or up their noses. See our button batteries page for more information and advice

Young children should not charge batteries. If older children are allowed to remove or charge batteries, they must be carefully supervised by an adult at all times.

Toys and the law

The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 are made under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. They prescribe Essential Safety Requirements regarding general principles including design, construction and composition, and also particular risks.

Particular risks address the following hazards:

Physical and mechanical

Flammability

Chemical properties

Electrical properties

Hygiene

Radioactivity.

"Toy" is defined as "any product or material designed or clearly intended for use in play by children of less than 14 years of age" but does not include such items as children's fashion jewellery or Christmas decorations.

Third parties, as well as the actual users of toys, must be protected against health hazards and physical injury when the toy is used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the normal behaviour of children.

This places a considerable responsibility on manufacturers to anticipate how their products will be used and to take action at the design stage to prevent injury being caused through foreseeable misuse.

The harmonised European Standard EN 71 provides the recognised interpretation of the legal requirements.

The law is enforced by Trading Standards Officers who are able to take immediate action. They can be contacted at any local unitary, county or London borough authority. In the case of Northern Ireland the law is enforced by Environmental Health officers who can be contacted at any local council.

References

1. Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, London: The Stationery Office, 2011. SI 2011/1881

2. EN 71: Safety of toys.

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Our information resources and articles cover many aspects of product safety

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Helpful video with information for looking after your child's teeth.

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How to care for the teeth of children aged 0-3 with Dr Ranj and Supertooth!

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Parental controls offered by your home internet provider

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Parental controls offered by your home internet provider

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In addition to content filtering offered by your ISP, many devices such as games consoles, smartphones and tablets have their own parental controls, for example to limit spending or restrict access to apps based on age rating. Likewise, many web browsers have built-in tools and features to help you control the kinds of content users can view.

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Parental controls offered by your home internet provider - UK Safer Internet Centre

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How to set up filters on your home internet to help prevent age inappropriate content being accessed on devices in your home.

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Establishing appropriate levels of filtering

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Establishing appropriate levels of filtering

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Schools and Colleges should regularly check that their filtering and monitoring systems are effective and applied to all devices. Checks should be conducted when significant changes take place (for example, technology, policy or legislation), in response to incidents and at least annually. These checks should be recorded, including details about the location, device and user alongside the result and any associated action.

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Appropriate Filtering - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Guide for education settings and filtering providers about establishing 'appropriate levels of filtering'

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Staying safe online when using social media

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Staying safe online when using social media

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Know what privacy features are available

There are a range of privacy features and parental controls you can set up on social media accounts. These often include preventing unwanted contact from strangers and limiting the exposure of posts. Consider what restrictions work best for your family, ensure age restrictions are adhered to, develop understanding within the household of safer internet use and consider how privacy features could be lifted as time goes on.

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There are a range of privacy features and parental controls you can set up on social media accounts. These often include preventing unwanted contact from strangers and limiting the exposure of posts. Consider what restrictions work best for your family, ensure age restrictions are adhered to, develop understanding within the household of safer internet use and consider how privacy features could be lifted as time goes on.

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Jackie Saull-Hunt

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Children must normally use a child car seat until they're 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.

Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt.

You can choose a child car seat based on your child's height or weight.

Height-based seats

Height-based seats are known as 'i-Size' seats. They must be rear-facing until your child is over 15 months old. Your child can use a forward-facing child car seat when they're over 15 months old.

You must check the seat to make sure it's suitable for the height of your child.

Only EU-approved height-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital 'E' in a circle and 'R129'.

Weight-based seats

The seat your child can use (and the way they must be restrained in it) depends on their weight.

Only EU-approved weight-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital 'E' in a circle and 'ECE R44'.

You may be able to choose from more than one type of seat in the group for your child's weight.

0kg to 10kg

0

Lie-flat or 'lateral' baby carrier, rear-facing baby carrier, or rear-facing baby seat using a harness

0kg to 13kg

0+

Rear-facing baby carrier or rear-facing baby seat using a harness

9kg to 18kg

1

Rear- or forward-facing baby seat using a harness or safety shield

15kg to 25kg

2

Rear- or forward-facing child car seat (high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) using a seat belt, harness or safety shield

22kg to 36kg

3

Rear- or forward-facing child car seat (high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) using a seat belt, harness or safety shield

Manufacturers can now only make booster cushions approved as group 3. This won't affect any existing booster cushions in group 2 and you'll still be able to use them.

Fitting a child car seat

You must only use a child car seat if your car's seat belt has a diagonal strap, unless the seat is either:

specifically designed for use with a lap seat belt

fitted using ISOFIX anchor points

You must also:

deactivate any front airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat

not fit a child car seat in side-facing seats

Children with disabilities or medical conditions

The same rules apply for children with disabilities or medical conditions, but they can use a disabled person's seat belt or a child restraint designed for their needs.

A doctor can issue an exemption certificate if a child is unable to use a restraint or seat belt because of their condition.

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The rules for child car seats and booster seats - height, weight, age, type of vehicle, car, minibus, licensed taxi

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How to check if you are eligible for help with childcare costs.

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Find out how to access NHS mental health services and where to get urgent help.

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The mental health charity

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We’re Mind, the mental health charity | Mind

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We're Mind, the mental health charity. We're here to make sure no one has to face a mental health problem alone.

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How to take care of your baby or toddler's teeth

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How to take care of your baby or toddler's teeth

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How to take care of your baby or toddler’s teeth - Start for Life - NHS

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Help your little one maintain a lifetime of healthy smiles by teaching them good dental habits, such as regular brushing and not eating or drinking too much sugar.

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A Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Information Hub

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Helping parents and carers make informed decisions for their children

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Local care and support in one place

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Shortcuts

If you'd like someone to pop in for a chat or lend a hand, why not look at a Good Neighbour Scheme in your area? They can also offer practical assistance such as going shopping or getting you to medical appointments.

Winter-wise

East Sussex County Council have free assessment forms for

to see what support you might need.

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If you'd like someone to pop in for a chat or lend a hand, why not look at a Good Neighbour Scheme in your area? They can also offer practical assistance such as going shopping or getting you to medical appointments. East Sussex County Council have free assessment forms for to see what support you might need.

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A free app that gives information on how to prepare for and help with first aid emergencies.

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Free apps from the British Red Cross with live weather alerts, terrorist-threat-level updates and advice to prepare for emergencies.

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Knowing the signs and symptoms of meningitis, and taking action, is vital and could save a life. We have created downloadable videos and images optimised for mobile phones so you can always have them to hand

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Knowing the signs and symptoms of meningitis, and taking action, is vital and could save a life. We have created downloadable videos and images optimised for mobile phones so you can always have them to hand

Download signs & symptoms videos and images

If at any time you encounter meningitis, either directly or indirectly, we are here to help.

Get Support from Meningitis Now

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Mobile friendly signs and symptoms downloads

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We have created mobile phone optimised videos and images for you to download and share, so that you will always have meningitis signs and symptoms to hand

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You can start brushing your baby's teeth as soon as they start to come through. Use a baby toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste.
Don't worry if you don't manage to brush much at first. The important thing is to get your baby used to brushing their teeth as part of their daily routine. You can help by setting a good example and letting them see you brushing your own teeth.

Tooth brushing tips for babies

Use a tiny smear of toothpaste for babies and toddlers up to 3 years old, and a pea-sized amount for children aged 3 to 6 years.

Gradually start brushing your child's teeth more thoroughly, covering all the surfaces of the teeth. Do it at least twice a day: just before bed and at another time that fits in with your routine.

Not all children like having their teeth brushed, so you may have to keep trying. Make it into a game, or brush your own teeth at the same time and then help your child finish their own.

The easiest way to brush a baby's teeth is to sit them on your knee, with their head resting against your chest. With an older child, stand behind them and tilt their head backwards.

Brush the teeth in small circles, covering all the surfaces, and encourage your child to spit the toothpaste out afterwards. There's no need to rinse with water, as this will wash away the fluoride.

Check to make sure your child gets the right amount of toothpaste and they're not eating or licking toothpaste from the tube.

Carry on helping your child brush their teeth until you're sure they can do it well enough themselves. This will normally be until they're at least 7.

Taking your baby to the dentist

Take your child with you when you go for your own dental appointments so they get used to the idea.

NHS dental treatment for children is free, but not all dentists will take on new NHS patients.

To find a dentist, you can use our services search, ask at your local clinic, or contact NHS England on 0300 311 22 3 or email england.contactus@nhs.net.

Sugar and tooth decay

Sugar causes tooth decay. It's not just about the amount of sugar in sweet food and drinks, but how long and how often the teeth are in contact with sugar.

Lollipops and sweet drinks in a formula bottle are particularly damaging, because they bathe the teeth in sugar for long periods of time. The acid in drinks like fruit juice and squash can harm teeth as well.

The sugars found naturally in whole fruit and milk are less likely to cause tooth decay.

Sucrose, glucose, dextrose, maltose, fructose and hydrolysed starch are all sugars. Invert sugar or syrup, honey, raw sugar, brown sugar, cane sugar, muscovado sugar and concentrated fruit juices are also sugars.

How to cut down sugar in your child's diet

These tips will help you reduce the amount of sugar in your child's diet and prevent tooth decay:

Avoid sugar-sweetened drinks - the best drinks for young children are plain milk and water.

It's OK to use bottles for expressed breast milk, formula milk, or cooled boiled water. But using them for juices or sugary drinks can increase tooth decay.

From 6 months old, you can offer babies drinks in a non-valved free-flowing cup.

When your baby starts eating solid foods, encourage them to eat savoury food and drinks with no sugar. Check if there's sugar in pre-prepared baby foods (including the savoury ones), rusks and baby drinks. Read more about food labels.

If you choose to give your child sweet foods or fruit juice, only give them at mealtimes. Remember to dilute 1 part juice to 10 parts water. Your child should have no more than 1 drink of fruit juice (150ml) in any 1 day as part of their 5 A Day.

Don't give your child biscuits or sweets - ask family and friends to do the same. Offer things like stickers, hair slides, crayons, colouring books and bubbles instead. They may be more expensive than sweets, but they last longer.

At bedtime or during the night, only give your child breast milk, formula or cooled boiled water.

If your child needs medicine, ask a pharmacist or GP if there's a sugar-free option.

Check your whole family's sugar intake - see how to cut down on sugar in your diet.

Should I give my baby a dummy?

It's fine to give your baby a dummy but avoid using them after 12 months of age. Using dummies after this can encourage an open bite, which is when teeth move to make space for the dummy. They may also affect your child's speech development.

Discourage your child from talking or making sounds with a dummy or their thumb in their mouth, and don't dip dummies in anything sweet, such as sugar or jam.

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You can start brushing your baby's teeth as soon as they start to come through. Use a baby toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste.

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Benefits of teeth brushing role play

It will help them to understand their routine and the actions they need to take to brush their teeth properly.

It makes teeth brushing fun.

It gives them practise following simple instructions.

Modelling the activity will help them to develop the fine motor skills needed.

They can learn action words, like 'brush', and words for motions, like 'up and down'.

How to teach children to brush their teeth

Bring a second toothbrush and your child's favourite teddy with you into the bathroom when it's time for them to brush their teeth. Always ensure that you keep a watchful eye on your little one as they brush their teeth to make sure they're doing it properly and safely.

Set a timer for 2 minutes, so that your little one is brushing their teeth for the right amount of time as recommended by dentists.

Show them the action of brushing their teeth using teddy to encourage them to brush their teeth at the same time. Talk about what's happening e.g. 'Asia's brushing her teeth and Teddy's brushing her teeth'. Talk about the motions - 'round and round', 'up and down', 'top and bottom'.

Ask simple questions like 'Have you done the tops of your teeth?'.

If they try to say words like 'Bear', repeat it back to them in a sentence to show them how it is used properly - 'that's Bear's, this is yours'.

Offer plenty of encouragement - 'well done, your teeth are nice and clean now'.

Let children act out brushing teddy's teeth too, this will help to reinforce what they're doing and why.

Repeat instructions over and over to help what they need to do sink in - things like 'up and down', 'top and bottom' and '2 minutes'.

Teaching children about routines

Daily routines are great opportunities for learning - not only can you help little ones to understand what they need to do, but they can learn a few words and practise following instructions along the way.

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Looking to teach kids to brush their teeth? Try using a favourite teddy

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Teddies are great for helping children learn how to brush their teeth. Why not try brushing teddy's teeth at the same time as your child brushes their teeth?

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From brushing their first tooth to their first trip to the dentist, here's how to take care of your children's teeth.
A regular teeth-cleaning routine is essential for good dental health. Follow these tips and you can help keep your kids' teeth decay-free.

Toothbrushing tips

It's important to use a fluoride toothpaste, as this helps prevent and control tooth decay.
Children aged up to 3 years

Start brushing your baby's teeth as soon as the first milk tooth breaks through (usually at around 6 months, but it can be earlier or later).

Parents or carers should brush the teeth.

Brush teeth twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.

Brush last thing at night before bed and on 1 other occasion.

Use children's fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride (check label) unless a dentist advises family toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm fluoride.

Use only a smear of toothpaste.

Make sure children don't eat or lick toothpaste from the tube.

Children aged 3 to 6 years

Brush at least twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.

Brush last thing at night before bed and at least on 1 other occasion.

Parents or carers should brush the teeth.

Use children's fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride (check label) unless a dentist advises family toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm fluoride.

Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

Spit out after brushing and don't rinse - if you rinse, the fluoride won't work as well.

Children aged 7 and over

Brush at least twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.

Brush last thing at night before bed and at least on 1 other occasion.

Use fluoride toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm of fluoride (check label).

Spit out after brushing and don't rinse - if you rinse, the fluoride won't work as well.

Children aged 7 and over should be able to brush their own teeth, but it's still a good idea to watch them to make sure they brush properly and for about 2 minutes.

How to help children brush their teeth properly

Guide your child's hand so they can feel the correct movement.

Use a mirror to help your child see exactly where the brush is cleaning their teeth.

Make tooth brushing as fun as possible by using an egg timer to time it for about 2 minutes.

Don't let children run around with a toothbrush in their mouth, as they may have an accident and hurt themselves.

Taking your child to the dentist

NHS dental care for children is free.

Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear. This is so they become familiar with the environment and get to know the dentist. The dentist can advise you on how to prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Just opening up the child's mouth for the dentist to take a look at is useful practice for the future.

When you visit the dentist, be positive about it and make the trip fun. This will stop your child worrying about future visits.

Take your child for regular dental check-ups as advised by the dentist.

Find a dentist near you

Fluoride varnish and fissure sealants

Fissure sealants can be done once your child's permanent back teeth have started to come through (usually at the age of about 6 or 7) to protect them against decay. This is where the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are covered with a special thin plastic coating to keep germs and food particles out of the grooves. The sealant can last for as long as 5 to 10 years.

Fluoride varnish can be applied to both baby teeth and adult teeth. It involves painting a varnish that contains high levels of fluoride onto the surface of the tooth every 6 months to prevent decay. Some children may need this more often. It works by strengthening tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay.

From the age of 3, children should be offered fluoride varnish application at least twice a year. Younger children may also be offered this treatment if your dentist thinks they need it.

Ask your dentist about fluoride varnish or fissure sealing.

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Find out how to look after children's teeth, including advice on brushing, toothpaste, establishing a routine and taking a child to the dentist for the first time.

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Should my baby use a beaker or a cup video

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Should my baby use a beaker or a cup video

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Dummies, pros and cons: your dummy questions answered | NCT

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Whether it’s to do with breastfeeding, teeth or SIDS, here are some things to consider when deciding whether to give your child a dummy.

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The Baby & Child Nutritionist

Giving parents confidence in feeding their children. From weaning, fussy eating and beyond, award winning Charlotte Stirling Reed works with brands, celebrities and parents to share positive, evidence-based advice on giving children a healthy start in life.

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The Baby & Child Nutritionist | Charlotte Stirling-Reed | SR Nutrition

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Giving parents confidence in feeding their children. From weaning, fussy eating and beyond, award winning Charlotte Stirling Reed works with brands, celebrities and parents to share positive, evidence-based advice on giving children a healthy start in life.

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Government advice on children's dental health

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Summary

This resource outlines how health professionals can help prevent tooth decay in children under 5 as part of ensuring every child has the best start in life.

Scale of the problem

Tooth decay is largely preventable yet it remains a serious problem. Findings from Public Health England's ( PHE) 2015 national dental epidemiology survey of 5 year old children showed that in 2015 in England, a quarter (25%) of 5 year olds had experienced tooth decay, having on average 3 or 4 teeth affected. The vast majority of tooth decay was untreated.

There was wide variation in the prevalence of tooth decay. The areas with poorer dental health tend to be in the north and in the more deprived local authority areas.

When comparing the regions, the estimates of tooth decay ranged from 33% in the north west to 20% in the south east.

The highest level of tooth decay was found in Blackburn and Darwen, where 56% of children aged 5 have tooth decay compared to the lowest level of just 4% in South Gloucester.

The most recent data for 5 year olds shows that 41% of variation can be explained by deprivation.

The 2013 oral health survey of 3 year olds found that 12% had experienced dental decay. On average, these children had 3 teeth affected.

In the 2 years to March 2016, 38% of 0 to 4 year olds in England accessed a dentist. The rate varied across the country from 15% in the City of London to 58% in High Peak (Derbyshire).

Tooth extraction was the sixth most common procedure in hospital for children under 5 years of age, and it was the most common reason for hospital admission for children aged 5 to 9 years old.

Poor dental health impacts children and families

Poor dental health impacts not just on the individual's health but also their wellbeing and that of their family. Children who have toothache or who need treatment may have pain, infections and difficulties with eating, sleeping and socialising.

A quarter of 5 year-olds have tooth decay when they start school. Children who have toothache or who need treatment may have to be absent from school and parents may also have to take time off work to take their children to a dentist or to hospital.

Oral health is therefore an important aspect of a child's overall health status and of their school readiness.

Many children would be missing additional school days while attending the hospital and recovery the following day, culminating in the majority of children missing at least 2 school days with some children being absent for up to 15 days.

These missed school days will not only affect the child, but the family as well. Many days of work were potentially lost, as 41% of parents or carers of these children were employed.

Oral health is seen as a marker of wider health and social care issues including poor nutrition and obesity. The relationship between obesity, deprivation and dental caries is unclear. Despite this, it is likely that interventions that reduce sugar intake have the potential to impact both conditions at the population level because deprivation and high intakes of free-sugars are known risk factors for both dental caries and for obesity.

Evidence shows that poor oral health may also be indicative of dental neglect and wider safeguarding issues. Dental neglect is defined as 'the persistent failure to meet a child's basic oral health needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of a child's oral or general health or development'.

Children who have high levels of disease in primary teeth have an increased risk of disease in their permanent teeth. If treated, these teeth will require long term maintenance throughout life.

Dental treatment under general anaesthesia presents a small but real risk of life-threatening complications for children and carries significant morbidity for children undergoing this procedure.

The Global Burden of Disease study (2010) found that most disability amongst 5 to 9 year olds in the UK was caused by poor oral health. An average of 2.24 hours of children's healthy lives was lost for every child aged 5 to 9 years because of poor oral health. This exceeded the level of disability associated with vision loss (1.64 hours), hearing loss (1.77 hours) and type 2 diabetes (1.54 hours).

Why invest in oral health improvement

Despite being largely preventable, dental disease places significant costs on the NHS. In 2014, all age NHS dental treatment costs were £3.4 billion with an estimated additional £2.3 billion in the private sector.

In the financial year 2015 to 2016, the cost of tooth extractions was approximately £50.5 million among children aged 0 to 19 years. This was for tooth extractions for any reason but the majority of extractions were for tooth decay. Among children under 5 years of age there were 9,306 admissions for tooth extractions (with 7,926 specifically identified as being due to tooth decay), at a cost of approximately £7.8 million.

There are a number of cost effective interventions to prevent tooth decay that can save money in the long term and reduce the number of children needing time off school because of tooth decay. Targeted community fluoride varnish programmes can, for example, result in an extra 3,049 school days gained per 5,000 children.

PHE estimates that the return on investment ( ROI) for this intervention is £2.29 for every £1 spent after 5 years, increasing to £2.74 after 10 years.

PHE launched the Children's Oral Health Improvement Programme Board in 2016 with a wide range of partners and stakeholders with the aim to improve the oral health of all children and reduce the oral health gap for disadvantaged children.

The collective ambition of the board is that every child grows up free from tooth decay as part of the ambition for every child having the best start in life. Preventing tooth decay also fits in with the government's childhood obesity strategy, and work on health inequalities and social justice.

Risk factors for tooth decay

Tooth decay results from the destruction of the hard tissues of the tooth by acids produced in the mouth when bacteria in dental plaque metabolises dietary sugars. Repeated and prolonged acid attacks will eventually cause the tooth surface to weaken and a hole or cavity will form which may lead to pain and infection.

The risk of tooth decay increases as a child's diet starts to include foods and drinks other than breast milk or formula, depending on the free sugar content.

Every child who has teeth is at risk of tooth decay, but the risk increases for those living in the more deprived areas where the imbalance in income, education, employment and neighbourhood circumstances affect the life chances of children's development.

Children are more at risk of developing tooth decay if they are:

eating a poor diet

brushing their teeth less than twice per day with fluoride toothpaste

from deprived backgrounds

How to prevent tooth decay

Improving child dental health requires a whole systems approach with action across the sector, from national and local policy, healthcare to families and the food and drink industry. Whilst local authorities have a lead statutory role in improving the oral health of their local population, everyone has a part to play.

Parental advice on good dental health

For babies:

Health professionals, such as midwives and health visitors, should support and encourage women to breastfeed. Creating the right environment to promote this is crucial. The UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative provides a robust evidence based framework to develop a whole-systems approach to breastfeeding.

The UK government recommends exclusive breastfeeding for around the first 6 months of life. Complementary foods should be introduced into the infant's diet from around 6 months of age alongside continued breastfeeding (or infant formula if the mother chooses).

Not being breastfed is associated with an increased risk of infectious morbidity (for example, gastroenteritis, respiratory infections, middle ear infections) and current evidence suggests that breastfeeding up to 12 months of age is associated with a decreased risk of tooth decay.

PHE recommends that:

breast milk is the only food or drink babies need for around the first 6 months of their life. First formula milk is the only suitable alternative to breast milk

bottle-fed babies should be introduced to drinking from a free-flow cup from the age of 6 months and bottle feeding should be discouraged from 12 months old

only breast or formula milk or cooled, boiled water should be given in bottles

only milk or water should be drunk between meals and adding sugar to foods or drinks should be avoided

For all children:

Give healthier eating advice routinely to patients to promote good oral and general health. The main message is to reduce the amount of foods and drinks that contain 'free' sugars - a definition set by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition ( SACN).

SACN's definition of 'free' sugars includes all sugars added to foods and drinks by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, as well as sugars naturally present in honey, all kinds of syrups and unsweetened fruit juices. It does not include sugars naturally present in milk and milk products and sugars contained within the cellular structure of foods (particularly fruit and vegetables).

Healthy Start vouchers can be used to help families on a low-income buy basic foods such as milk and fresh or frozen fruit.

PHE's Delivering Better Oral Health: a toolkit for prevention recommends that for all children:

reduce the quantity and frequency of foods and drinks that contain sugar, only give sweet foods and dried fruit at mealtimes

squashes sweetened with sugar, fizzy drinks, soft drinks and juice drinks have no place in a child's daily diet

limit the amount of fruit juice and smoothies your child drinks to a maximum of 150 ml (1 portion) in total per day and drink it with meals to reduce the risk of tooth decay

always ask for sugar-free medicines

Cut down on sugar consumption

SACN recommends that the average intake of 'free' sugars for all age groups from 2 years upwards should not exceed 5% of total dietary energy intake. However, children are consuming 2 to 3 times that amount and this is having a damaging effect on their health.

Sugar reduction programme

A broad, structured and transparently monitored sugar reduction programme is being led by PHE to remove sugar from the products children eat most.

Evidence shows that slowly changing the balance of ingredients in everyday products, or making changes to product size, is a successful way of improving diets. This is because the changes are universal and do not rely on individual behaviour change.

All sectors of the food and drinks industry (retailers, manufacturers and the eating out of home sector) will be challenged to reduce overall sugar by 20% by 2020, across the 9 product categories that contribute most to children's sugar intakes, including a 5% reduction in the first year (by August 2017).

This includes breakfast cereals, yoghurt and fromage frais, biscuits, cakes, confectionery (sweet and chocolate), morning goods (such as croissants, buns and muffins), puddings, ice-cream and sweet spreads and sauces.

Businesses can take action by:

lowering the amount of sugar in products

reducing portion size

shifting consumer purchasing towards lower or no added sugar products

PHE will monitor progress by all sectors of industry towards achieving the 20% reduction by publishing updates every 6 months. This includes detailed reports on progress in March 2018 and March 2020.

Soft drinks industry levy

Childhood obesity: a plan for action also outlined plans for a soft drinks industry levy payable from April 2018 on those drinks containing added sugar with a total sugar content of 5g per 100ml or more.

A single 330ml can of a soft drink with added sugar (which can contain as much as 35g of sugar), may instantly take a child over their maximum recommended daily intake of sugar.

The aim of the levy is to encourage producers to reduce the amount of sugar in their products and to move consumers towards healthier alternatives. Businesses have been given 2 years from the initial announcement of the levy to implement change - some manufacturers are already taking steps to reduce levels in products.

Any drinks that remain out of scope of the levy will become part of PHE 's sugar reduction programme.

Effective interventions for improving dental health

There have been a number of reviews on the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of interventions for improving dental health including the NICE guidance on oral health.

PHE commissioned a review of the evidence of the cost-effectiveness of interventions to improve the oral health of children aged 0 to 5 years and an ROI tool. They focused on the following programmes that are clinically effective and reduce the levels of tooth decay in 5 year olds.

Targeted supervised tooth brushing

Daily application of fluoride toothpaste to teeth reduces the incidence and severity of tooth decay in children. However, children in more deprived areas are less likely to brush their teeth at least twice daily.

Targeted childhood settings such as nursery and school settings can provide a suitable supportive environment for children to take part in a supervised tooth brushing programme, teaching them to brush their teeth from a young age and encouraging support for home brushing.

The evidence tells us that to maximise prevention of tooth decay, children aged 0 to 6 years should brush their teeth at least twice a day with family fluoride toothpaste (containing 1350 to 1500 parts per million ( ppm) fluoride). Children under 3 years old should use a smear and 3 to 6 year olds a pea sized amount. They should spit not rinse after brushing and tooth brushing should be supervised by an adult.

At a population, school or early years' level, the evidence tells us that brushing each day at school over a 2 year period is effective in preventing tooth decay and can establish life long behaviour to promote oral health. It is also important that school based tooth brushing activity should promote and support tooth brushing in the home as well as the school or early years setting.

The NICE guidance on oral health and PHE recommend that targeted supervised tooth brushing schemes are considered for nurseries and primary schools in areas where children are at high risk of poor oral health. A study of supervised tooth brushing in early years settings reported that supervised tooth brushing schemes are 'easily deliverable'.

PHE estimates that after 5 years, the ROI for targeted supervised tooth brushing is £3.06 for every £1 spent. After 10 years, this increases to £3.66 for every £1 spent.

After 5 years, targeted supervised tooth brushing can result in an extra 2,666 school days gained per 5,000 children.

PHE's supervised tooth brushing programme toolkit supports commissioners and providers of such programmes in England, allowing them to gain assurance that they are commissioning and delivering high quality programmes.

Provision of toothbrushes and paste by post

Targeted and timely provision of free toothbrushes and toothpaste by postal delivery can encourage parents to adopt good oral health practices and start tooth brushing as soon as the first teeth erupt.

Postal delivery is likely to minimise uptake issues, making the impact on inequalities more favourable. Engaging with health visitors can help to ensure support for the programme and consistency of messages.

To increase effectiveness programmes should consider targeting to those with highest levels of disease and the use of 1350 to 1500 ppm fluoride toothpaste.

Other considerations when implementing a programme include deciding on the:

length of programme

frequency of postal drops

age of commencement and provision of oral health advice information

PHE estimates that after 5 years, the ROI for every £1 spent is £1.03. After 10 years, this increases to £1.54.

After 5 years, the provision of toothbrushes by post can result in 1,025 school days gained per 5,000 children.

Targeted provision of toothbrushes and paste by post and by health visitors increases the cost effectiveness of the scheme. After 5 years, the ROI for every £1 spent is £4.89, increasing to £7.34 after 10 years. Combining postal provision of toothbrushes with support from health visitors can result in 2,566 days school days gained per 5,000 children after 5 years.

Targeted community fluoride varnish programmes

A rapid review of evidence on the cost-effectiveness of interventions to improve the oral health of children aged 0 to 5 years found strong evidence of effectiveness of targeted community fluoride varnish programmes. The programmes involve the application of fluoride varnish to children's teeth, which is carried out by dental personnel outside dental practices.

They can have a positive impact on reducing health inequalities provided that they are targeted at high-risk populations.

Successful delivery depends on:

engaging with parents and schools and early years' settings

ensuring the inclusion of wider oral health improvement messages and supportive environments

good links with dental practices to ensure that dental practices are informed if their patients have received fluoride varnish

children having at least twice yearly applications

PHE estimates that after 5 years, the ROI for every £1 spent is £2.29, increasing to £2.74 after 10 years.

After 5 years, targeted community fluoride varnish programmes can result in an extra 3,049 school days gained per 5,000 children.

Water fluoridation programmes

Water fluoridation is the only oral health improvement intervention that does not require behaviour change by individuals.

All water contains small amounts of naturally occurring fluoride. Fluoride in water at the optimal concentration (1 ppm or 1 mg fluoride per litre of water) can help reduce the likelihood of tooth decay and minimise its severity.

Where the naturally occurring fluoride level is too low to provide these benefits, a water fluoridation scheme raises it to 1 ppm.

The first substantive community water fluoridation scheme in England was introduced in Birmingham in 1964. This was quickly followed in the same decade by schemes in a number of other local authorities, some urban, some rural.

Hull, which has one of the highest levels of tooth decay in the country, is the latest area to consider introducing water fluoridation.

Water fluoridation provides a universal programme. After 5 years, the ROI for every £1 spent is £12.71. After 10 years, this increases £21.98 for every £1 invested.

A total of 1,611 school days are gained per 10,000 children after 5 years.

The return of responsibility for water fluoridation to local authorities offers them the opportunity to take decisive action to improve oral health. An authority considering fluoridation will be met with claims that it does not work and that it causes harm. Both statements are untrue. PHE's Water fluoridation: health monitoring report for England 2014 concluded that fluoridation is an effective community-wide public health intervention.

PHE's Improving oral health: a community water fluoridation toolkit for local authorities has more advice on how to introduce water fluoridation programmes.

Call to action

Achieving good dental health for all children needs the support and commitment of a wide range of partners. The most effective way to improve dental health is to embed it in all children's services at strategic and operational levels.

Commissioners

Dental commissioners

Dental commissioners are testing innovative commissioning to improve child oral health in 13 priority areas in England. Learning from this should inform wider commissioning.

Support commissioning of the Dental Check by One (DCby1) national initiative which aims to improve attendance of children under 2 years from the current level.

All children over 3 and all children at risk of tooth decay should have twice yearly applications of fluoride varnish. This is monitored in the dental assurance framework by NHS England, the current commissioner of NHS dental services, and dental practices should be supported to achieve year on year improvements in levels of provision.

Local authority commissioners

Local authority commissioners of children's services should seek to integrate oral health within 0 to 19 commissioning and the Healthy Child Programme.

Local authorities should also consider commissioning oral health improvement programmes, using the evidence of what works and with regard to the return of investment of the programmes.

Local authorities in areas with high levels of tooth decay may want to consider water fluoridation.

Healthcare practitioners

All healthcare practitioners should consider how they can influence behaviour to improve the oral health of children as part of making every contact count (MECC).

Dental teams

All members of the dental team should have access to training based on Delivering Better Oral Health and the new Delivering Better Oral Health - quick guide to a healthy mouth in children factsheet.

All members of the dental team, including dental nurses, can offer oral health advice and those nurses that are appropriately trained and competent can apply fluoride varnish as well as providing oral health advice. To support healthier diets, dental teams can signpost parents to PHE's Be food smart app to identify hidden sugar and support reduced sugar consumption.

Dental teams should encourage dental attendance when the first tooth erupts at about 6 months of age, to give preventive messages.

Midwives

Midwives should have knowledge, developed as part of their training and through continuing professional development, of key oral health messages from the Delivering Better Oral Health - quick guide to a healthy mouth in children factsheet and Improving oral health for children and young people for health visitors, school nurses and practice nurses infographic.

Advise all mothers to attend the dentist and that dental care is free whilst pregnant and until the child is 1 year old.

Encourage parents to take their baby to the dentist before the first tooth erupts, at about 6 months of age. The dental team can also offer advice on how to look after the baby's mouth from birth.

Health visitors

Health visitors have an important role in providing advice and support as part of the healthy child programme. This includes:

universal interventions within the first year, providing oral health advice and support and signposting to dental services

identifying families that need additional support, for example the siblings of children who have attended hospital for dental extractions due to tooth decay

encouraging dental attendance when the first tooth erupts at about 6 months of age, to enable the dental teams to give preventive messages

Resources are available to support this including:

School Nurses

Have a role in advising on children's oral health, which can impact on school readiness.

General resources are available to support this including the resources mentioned above for health visitors.

Paediatricians, GPs, children's nurses and general practice nurses

Provide oral health messages for parents of 0 to 5s and advocate for child oral health.

Resources are available to support this, including:

Pharmacists

Offer oral health advice for parents of young children based on the Delivering Better Oral Health - quick guide to a healthy mouth in children factsheet and signpost to dental services.

Healthy settings

Early years settings can provide essential support for oral health by:

Voluntary Sector

Can support oral health improvement through:

providing parenting support programmes with oral health content to support the healthy child programme delivery

providing continuing professional development in oral health for the early years workforce

Specialist societies

Ensure all children receive high quality care by:

public engagement (including the production of patient information leaflets)

developing or disseminating best evidence, guidelines and clinical protocols to the public and to healthcare professionals

developing and leading oral health promoting initiatives

advocating for child oral health

Royal Colleges

The royal colleges can support oral health through:

providing pre and post-graduate education and professional development for dental and child health professionals including resources

providing guidelines and policy statements to inform professionals and the public

advocating for child oral health

Consultants in Dental Public Health

Public Health England centre-based consultants in dental public health have an important role supporting dental health improvement across the public health and the healthcare system.

They work closely with local authority public health teams, NHS England, local professional networks, Health Education England and other partners to support the delivery of dental health improvement across the life course, giving every child the best start in life.

Resources

Download infographics.

Read Health matters blog.

Watch Health matters videos.

Read case study: Healthy Teeth, Happy Smiles! Leicester City Council.

Read case study: Smile4Life in North West England.

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This resource outlines how health professionals can help prevent tooth decay in children under 5 as part of ensuring every child has the best start in life. Tooth decay is largely preventable yet it remains a serious problem.

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Breastfeeding is a skill that takes time to get the hang of. Lots of mums wonder if their baby's feeding well and getting enough - especially in the first few days.

But once you've mastered it, you'll probably find it's the easiest and most satisfying way to feed your baby.

We're here to provide lots of helpful information and advice on breastfeeding.

If you have any breastfeeding worries or concerns, the best thing to do is speak to your midwife or health visitor, or join a local breastfeeding support group.

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Breastfeeding can take practice - read our guides on breastfeeding to find out what works best for you

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What is weaning?

Introducing your baby to solid foods, also referred to as weaning or complementary feeding, starts when your baby is around 6 months old.

Your baby should be introduced to a varied diet, alongside their usual breast milk or first infant formula.

It can be confusing knowing when and how to start introducing solid foods. We're here to guide you through the weaning journey and explain what it all means.

We've got expert NHS advice, helpful videos, tips from other parents, and lots of simple, healthy weaning recipe and meal ideas.

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Weaning means introducing your baby to solid foods alongside their usual breast milk or infant formula. We're here to guide you through the journey.

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Should I keep my child off nursery/school?

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Should I keep my child off nursery/school?

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Find out when it’s best to keep your sick child at home and when it’s OK to send them to school or nursery.

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Government exclusion table for illnesses

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Government exclusion table for illnesses

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A food allergy is where your body reacts to certain foods. It's often mild, but can be very serious for some people.

Check if it's a food allergy

Symptoms of a food allergy can affect any part of the body, including different parts of the body at the same time.

Common symptoms of a food allergy include:

feeling dizzy or lightheaded

itchy skin or a raised rash (hives)

swelling of the lips, face and eyes (angioedema)

coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, noisy breathing or a hoarse voice

sneezing or an itchy, runny or blocked nose

feeling sick or being sick

tummy pain

diarrhoea

You may get symptoms straight after eating the food you're allergic to, or days later.

A food allergy is different from having a food intolerance, which causes symptoms such as bloating and tummy pain, usually a few hours after eating the food you're intolerant to.

If you have an adrenaline auto-injector

If you or someone you're with is having a serious allergic reaction and has an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen), you should use it immediately.

Instructions are included on the side of the injector if you forget how to use it or someone else needs to give you the injection.

Call 999 for an ambulance after using the injector, even if you or the person you're with seems to be feeling better.

Causes of food allergy

A food allergy is caused by your immune system overreacting to certain types of food.

It's not clear why this happens, but certain foods are more likely to cause an allergic reaction in some people.

The most common allergic foods include:

cows' milk

eggs

peanuts, soybeans, peas and chickpeas

tree nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, cashews, pistachios and Brazil nuts

shellfish, such as prawns, crab and lobster

wheat

But you can be allergic to any type of food, including celery, mustard, sesame seeds and lupin flour found in some baked goods.

You have a slightly higher chance of getting a food allergy if you or a close family member have other allergies, asthma or eczema.

Oral allergy syndrome

Some people get an itchy mouth and throat after eating raw fruit or vegetables. This is called oral allergy syndrome.

It's not usually serious and eating fruit and vegetables that have been well cooked helps.
Find out more about oral allergy syndrome on Allergy UK

Tests for food allergy

You may be referred to a specialist for tests if a GP thinks you have a food allergy.

Tests you may have include:

a skin-prick test (where a drop of liquid containing a food you may be allergic to is put on your skin to see if it reacts)

blood tests

a special diet where you avoid eating the food you might be allergic to, to see if your symptoms get better

You may also be asked to keep a food and symptoms diary to help work out what may be triggering your symptoms.

Find out more about keeping a food and symptoms diary on Allergy UK

Treatments for a food allergy

If you have a food allergy, you will not be able to eat the food you're allergic to, including foods where you're allergic to any of the ingredients.

You'll be given medicines to help manage your symptoms or use in case of an emergency.

These include:

antihistamines for mild allergic reactions

emergency medicines called adrenaline auto-injectors, such as an EpiPen, for severe allergic reactions

Your specialist will give you an allergy management plan that will explain how to manage your allergy.

Children with a peanut allergy may have immunotherapy to help their bodies become less sensitive to peanuts, but they should still avoid eating peanuts.

Things you can do if you have a food allergy

There are steps you can take to help manage your food allergy.

Page last reviewed: 05 January 2023
Next review due: 05 January 2026

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Find out more about food allergies, including what the symptoms are, what can cause them and how they're treated.

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your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen

you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)

your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow

your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)

you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy

someone faints and cannot be woken up

a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised or itchy.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

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NHS information about anaphylaxis, including symptoms, when to get help, treatment and prevention.

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We are an Operation Encompass nursery. We receive reports from the police if they have attended an incident of domestic abuse or violence. This is so we can then check in with the child at nursery and ensure they are supported.

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Panorama - The truth about baby food pouches

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Panorama - The Truth about Baby Food Pouches

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Catrin Nye reports on how some baby food in plastic pouches are worryingly low in essential vitamins and minerals, while others contain more sugar than the NHS recommends for infants.

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As the kids are back at school next week, I thought I would team up with the wonderful Laura Matthews Nutrition again to share some more ideas and inspiration for what exactly to put in those daunting lunch boxes. Most of these ideas should even be perfect packed lunch options for mini fussy eaters too!

Laura and I teamed up before and we've written blogs which include tips on Healthy Packed Lunches For Children and What does Good Nursery Food Look Like and now we're sharing some extra lunchbox inspo to help you on your way to settling them back into school.

Raffy's Lunchboxes

Raffy's been having lunch boxes at nursery pretty much since the start of covid and I've been a bit rubbish at sharing them - mainly because they are always bish bash bosh and chucked in from the fridge depending on what leftovers we have (I'm not organised like Laura!). However, adding the little extras with napkins, little messages and a toddler fork can help them to get a bit more excited about opening them. I've also included a lot of store cupboard options too to make his packed lunches just that little easier.

Raffy's lunchboxes this week:

I made sure that he always had an ice pack in the top and bottom of the lunch box to keep things cool, especially when he has egg and tuna. He also always takes a bottle of water in each day too.

I've also added a napkin and a fork and a little message from mummy to make it a little more special.

Elliott's lunchboxes

Laura has focused on using store cupboard staples for Elliott's lunchbox ideas to make it easy and cheap for parents to put these balanced ideas together. If you're running low on fresh produce it's so handy to still be able to pull a packed lunch together when your cupboards are well stocked! Think pasta, couscous, crackers/oatcakes, dried fruit and tinned foods such as beans or fruit (in juice).

To make life easy for ourselves try to decant food straight into containers where possible to make the packed lunch operation quick! So, make sure you've got leakproof, reusable containers that little ones can open easily.

A sandwich, with a side of fruit, yoghurt and a drink of water is a perfectly balanced lunch. If you know that's what your child will enjoy, and will keep them satisfied throughout the school day, then that's absolutely fine!

Pesto pasta with side of peas, chopped dried fruit & pot of yoghurt

Tuna & sweetcorn sandwich with cucumber sticks, grated cheese

Pitta bread with chicken strips, yoghurt/cucumber dip, fruit

Savoury pancakes/fritters with satsuma, - try my carrot and sweetcorn fritters, courgette fritters or spinach fritters with hummus, pot of peas & chopped dried fruit

Veggie muffins (these are great to make in bulk and add into lunch boxes easily), pot of mixed fruit, crackers and milk

Wrap with avocado and cream cheese, pumpkin seeds, chopped melon and breadsticks

Rice "salad" with cucumber, tomatoes, sweetcorn and cheese with oatcakes and mixed berries and yoghurt

Bagel with "smashed chickpea" / hummus OR chicken & mayo topping with pepper sticks, banana and mini muffin

Couscous with chicken and sweetcorn, cooked sweet potato wedges, yoghurt and fruit bar

Falafel or meatballs with tzatziki style dip, pepper sticks, pitta fingers and fruit

Cooked cubed potatoes with grated cheese, cucumber, tomato, raisins and mini muffin/flapjack

Pasta salad with mixed cooked veg (e.g. frozen veg mix or peppers, tomato and courgette), banana, handful of seeds/crisps and milk to drink

Easy enchiladas/quesadillas with fruit salad, oatcakes or oat bar - you can try a variation of this enchilada recipe or experiment with easy fillings - e.g. quickly fry off some beans/chicken with tomato paste and cheese

Tofu fingers with cold noodle salad, cucumber, chopped grapes and crackers

Pitta pizzas with fruit/chopped dried fruit and blueberry muffin

We hope these ideas are super helpful for some easy kids lunch box ideas for Back to School next week!

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Easy Kids Lunch Box Ideas for Back to School - SR Nutrition

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Easy Kids Lunch Box Ideas for Back to School by The Baby & Child Nutritionist, Charlotte Stirling Reed of SR NUtrition. Healthy lunch box ideas

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Whether squeezing it in before the school run in the morning or before bed on busy midweek evenings, preparing your child's lunchbox can seem like just another thing on the list.

School meals are a great choice, but if you do make a packed lunch for your child then we've got you covered with our range of quick, easy, healthier lunchbox ideas and tips.

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Lunchbox ideas and recipes - Healthier Families

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Simple, tasty recipes and tips for hassle-free healthier packed lunches.