Help is at hand to ensure children receive the most from their school years, thanks to an educational initiative aimed at giving pupils a boost in their home environment.

Washington is the regional headquarters of the Student Support Centre and the dedicated staff are enjoying their roles in ensuring the worldwide success of the programme continues in the North-East.

One of the key factors why children are not fulfilling their educational potential is the lack of one-to-one tuition.

To help improve learning performance, the Student Support Centre has devised a home-study programme to improve basic maths and English skills.

With over 80,000 children already enrolled on the programme parents are obviously acutely aware of the lack of individual attention their children normally receive at school.

The programme, designed to enhance the performance of children, aged between five and 16, uses traditional methods to consolidate current classroom work and encourages parents to become more involved with their child's education.

Modern video methods are utilised, as part of intensive one-to-one tutorials in conjunction with workbooks and supported by a freephone tutor service.

Each course is customised to suit the needs of the individual child and can be used by families until their youngest child completes their GCSEs.

Barry Robson, general manager, said: "At a time when parents are actively encouraged by both teachers and politicians to become more involved with the education of their children, the Student Support Centre offers a timely range of other choices for parents to help with and consolidate the work done in the classroom.

"It is not a quick-fix solution but a long-term programme which will ultimately help children achieve the most from their education."

Student Support Centres carry out free assessments to identify children's strengths and weaknesses.

Most families who enrol on the programme invest between £9 and £18 per week for both maths and English, regardless of the number of children in the family.

Compared with the cost of private education or home tutors, this programme provides tremendous value for money.

For more information, or to book a free, no-obligation assessment on your children, contact freephone 0800 132277