A CONSETT school is highlighting the benefits of an education system that helps pupils overcome mobility problems.

Villa Real School is celebrating National Conductive Education Awareness Week by giving presentations on the programme to staff from Sure Start nurseries, sixth form students, special schools and Durham County Council's education service.

The sessions, which have been held all week, explain what conductive education (CE) is, its philosophy and goals, how it can help pupils, how people can train to deliver CE, and what the school can offer.

Villa Real is the only local authority school in the North-East that provides CE and has a teacher trained in the system.

"We hope this awareness week will be beneficial for those visiting us and will get people talking about CE," said school spokeswoman Natalie Fitzpatrick.

"It will also be an opportunity for our staff, pupils and parents to celebrate our achievements and the knowledge we have gained since the introduction of CE to Villa Real School 18 months ago."

She added: "We hope that those who visit us during the week will leave having had many, if not all, their questions answered."

Fewer than ten of the 30 schools across the country that employ trained conductor teachers are local authority-controlled.