IN an ideal world all children would do well at school but the reality is very different.

Many youngsters require long-term one-to-one help to overcome reading, writing, concentration and behavioural problems.

Unless these serious problems are overcome in childhood they can blight their adult lives.

But children in County Durham have now shown that a capsule, taken six times a day, can help many children settle down and learn more quickly.

It is the holy grail of educational psychology and is expected to revolutionise the way under-performing children are treated around the world.

For years Dr Madelaine Portwood, an educational psychologist employed by Durham Local Educational Authority, who has written three books on dyspraxia, or clumsy child syndrome, has been intrigued by the idea that modern children may be lacking something in their diet.

Experts including Dr Portwood have long suspected that a diet deficient in long-chain fatty acids could hamper a child's ability to concentrate and learn.

Former BBC journalist Adam Kelliher was so convinced that he founded a company called Equazen three years ago to make capsules containing a specially selected blend of pure fish oil and evening primrose oil rich in long-chain fatty acids.

Mr Kelliher, believes that food supplements containing such acids could improve the way the brain functions, stimulating connective tissue.

After a chance meeting with Dr Portwood at a conference, the idea surfaced of holding the world's largest trial of long-chain fatty acid food supplements in 12 County Durham schools.

After six months and trials which involved 12,000 different measurements of cognitive ability, attention, balance, perceptual skills, reading and spelling, the verdict is a stunning endorsement of the view that supplements can boost learning and improve behaviour.

Dr Portwood, who was assisted by Dr Alexander Rich-ardson of Mansfield College, Oxford University, believes up to a third of mainstream pupils could benefit from taking the Eye.q food supplements donated by Equazen.

She also praised the part played by children, parents and school staff to ensure the success of the trial.

"Staff agreed to administer the supplement in the form of six capsules, two on arrival, two at lunchtime and two at the end of the school day. This ensured a high level of compliance," she added.

Dr Portwood also praised Durham County Council for allowing staff to work on the research project and the Dyslexia Research Trust in Oxford for helping to fund the Durham project.

Mr Kelliher, said the implications of the Durham trial were profound.

"I would hope this will lead to a re-evaluation of how we feed our children and a recognition of the fact that there is a definite connection between nutrition and learning."

Parents who dread the idea of persuading their youngsters to eat oily fish such as sardines at least can buy the active ingrediants in a capsule or linctus form.

Stunning results impress teacher

Headteacher Andrew Westerman is hugely impressed by the results of the trial.

Nine-year-old Elliott Best, featured on Robert Winston's BBC programme The Human Mind on Wednesday, October 1, is one of the best examples of how the supplements have transformed children.

"Here we have a child who has gone from a position where he could barely put pen to paper to a situation when the thing he likes to do most is write stories in his spare time. It is things like improved self-esteem that make so much of a difference. For the first time they can see that they are achieving," said Mr Westerman, headteacher at Timothy Hackworth Junior School, in Shildon.

* Eye-q is widely available from supermarkets, pharmacies and health shops or by calling 0870 241 5621 or online through www.equazen.com

Details about the Durham trial should be available on www.durhamtrial.org from Monday, September 29.