A NELSON primary school is appealling for more support assistants to help develop the skills of its most able and talented pupils.

Marsden Primary School is one of three Pendle schools taking part in the government funded Excellence in Cities scheme.

This involves various projects such as learning support mentors and the able and talented project. Pupils have been taking part in various projects to improve their confidence and skills.

Able and talented co-ordinator Emma Sykes said the school is hoping to extend the scheme but said they need more help so that time can be set aside for those pupils who can go one step further.

She said: "We are working on improving in-class provision for those pupils classed as 'able and talented' to make sure they are suitably challenged. We hope to appoint some new support assistants from September to support the work of those pupils firstly in science classes.

"The able pupils are those children identified as the top ten per cent of children in years five and six and the talented pupils are those particularly good at PE, music and art.

"There are 12 in the group although there is a wider register of pupils who, if there is enough room, get to go on the activities which are funded by the government.

"We started the scheme 18 months ago and it is a three-year project but we are hoping to have it extended and get extra funding."

Mrs Sykes said: "It's all about trying to widen their knowledge of their wider community and the world around them. They are also going to have a drama project which will increase their motivation and self esteem and improve communication skills."