CHILDREN who watch hours of television, are rarely spoken to and possess few social skills are to benefit from a new project in Bolton.

Bolton Education and Arts Committee approved a £600,000 investment in raising literacy standards in all primary schools last September.

So far, 104 primary and five nursery schools have received £2,900 each.

Now,13 schools where standards are way below national expectation, will get £15,000.

The Bolton Literacy Project will work with children in deprived areas who have few social skills.

"A number of children are starting school with low standards of literacy," explained David Llewellyn, of the Curriculum Management Support Unit. "They have specific problems particularly in speaking, listening and learning. They tend to be children who spend a lot of time in front of the television or video and have not had any particular access to books.

"Bringing children like this up to certain levels of attainment is obviously very difficult," he added.

Cllr Mrs Pauline Spencer, said: "Some of the children going into our schools have a great lack of social skills and lack any kind of self discipline whatsoever.

"You would have thought that television would increase concentration and teaching skills but it simply does not work and parents ought to be aware of that."

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