Letter: No help for gifted children

I am writing to express my disappointment at the lack of support for gifted children in the Telford and Wrekin area.

Although primary school must maintain a gifted kids' register, I understand that there are no other formal requirements.

My youngest son is on his school's register, but the school has little appetite or resource to provide additional activities to develop his natural ability.

I have met with the head teachers and governors on a number of occasions but they will not change their stance. The LEA refuses to help too, saying it is down to schools to decide what to do.

There is a National Association for Gifted Children which is an independent charity providing support .

Schools may become members, but this is not obligatory and a look at the short list of member schools shows very few rise to the challenge.

I contacted a local state grammar school to see if they would consider taking my son a year early.

They replied that rules prohibit children joining before age 11 and the only option is to apply for September 2013. They also confirmed that they do not provide support to primary children, gifted or not.

A look on the internet fails to highlight any out of school groups that help develop gifted children, other than sport ones.

Although I shall continue to fuel my son's passion for mathematics and science through home tuition, there must be many children in Telford who are falling well short of their potential.

Schools should recognise the special needs of their gifted children and nurture their passion for learning, rather than celebrate mediocrity

Tony Knight

Oakengates