Learning how to avoid the dentist is something children need to master early on.

So when Slough Council's cabinet member for health and wellbeing Natasa Pantelic visited Chalvey Grove Children's Centre she was interested to see whether the book about oral hygiene that the authority had donated was proving useful.

Centre manager Bella Dean took Cllr Pantelic on a tour, which included seeing senior early years practitioner Amandeep Kang reading from the Open Wide Step Inside book.

The book provides oral health messages through storytelling. There was also time for the children to practice their tooth brushing, using the props that oral health improvement practitioner Karen Gonzalez had brought for them to practise on.

Councillor Pantelic said: “Learning through play and storytelling can change a life and is very important for children, especially those under five. I was delighted to join staff, parents and children at Chalvey Grove Children’s Centre to see the difference quality books and learning resources make when learning about oral health.

“The council is passionate about giving children the best start in life and so I’m delighted we have been able to give resources to our early years settings that will help with learning about good oral health practice, including the right amount of tooth brushing a day and healthy eating habits."