TEACHERS at six Haslingden schools will get help from parents and other volunteers to boost the progress of under-achieving nine and ten-year-olds.

The unique scheme aims to identify areas where children are not making the progress they are capable of and then uses parents and volunteers to give extra tuition and support.

Special tests are carried out in primary schools, and around 25 children from six schools are then targeted by the scheme.

Each child has a learning programme tailored to their needs and keeps of diary of their own progress.

The scheme, which runs at St Marys RC, Broadway County, Haslingden County, Helmshore County, Stonefold CE and St James CE schools is funded by the Action for Haslingden partnership and supervised by Lancashire County Council. Partnership managing director Sally Collins says the the scheme, now into its second year, is the first of its kind to be run in the county's primary schools.

Project organiser Carole Warden says: "Some of the children have a lack of confidence, and we have meetings to set them tasks for each week, like putting up their hand in class or taking a bigger part in lessons.

"Others may be struggling with just one area, such as mental arithmetic.

"The volunteers can give them extra help outside classes, or teachers can have the whole class working on the subject so that other children benefit, too.

"The scheme helps children of all abilities who are not making the progress they should."

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