Rebecca Turner and Karen Green describe how young people with special educational needs can be helped to overcome anxiety about dental care with the help of their peers and staff

The article explains how a group approach using class peers in a school for children with learning disabilities helped them to overcome the fear of attending the dentist for a check up. The programme, which was delivered by health professionals and educational staff, comprised carefully planned group sessions, accessible information, appropriate tactile resources and a reward system. It successfully motivated participants to make good decisions about accessing health appointments, to experience a potentially difficult environment, and to link a perceived negative experience with a positive one.