GOBSTOPPERS and jammy dodgers will NOT be on the menu of Meadowbank CP School in Atherton or St Luke's in Lowton this week as both schools take part in National Smile Week.

For they have both agreed to become "Healthy Tuck Shop' schools along with a number of other schools in the borough by offering pupils a healthy alternative which won't rot teeth.

The scheme was planned by a group of health professionals from Wigan and Leigh Health Services along with educationalists and schools catering staff.

Following the example of some local schools who already provide healthy snacks, the idea is to encourage children at primary school level in particular to think about their teeth and eat healthy food.

Initially, instead of the tuck shop serving sticky snacks , toast, milk and a selection of fruit will be on offer, and it is hoped these will provide important nourishment for children who may have gone to school without eating a breakfast.

Ruth Chapman, Community Dental Health Co-ordinator, said: "Schools are great at passing on good dietary and dental health information as part of the national curriculum. We want to show that you can match action with words, by providing the right sort of snacks for pupils."

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