A PENWORTHAM toddler is one of many children with learning difficulties coming on inw leaps and bounds with the help of a new educational Smile centre in Leyland Library.

The new learning centre initiative has been praised by parents of children with disabilities who require special help to encourage their educational development.

It follows a successful £198,000 bid by Lancashire County Council to the department of culture, media and sport's Wolfson Foundation, and is one of the first to open in Lancashire.

The special centre provides multi-media activities, interactive learning games, Braille and sensory books for children and their families.

The Preston Smile centre opens at the Harris today (Thursday, April 25).

Sixteen-month-old Callum Connolly is deaf and suffers with cerebral palsy. He struggles to keep his head up and can barely sit unaided.

But thanks to the Smile centre the toddler can learn at his own pace using methods designed for his needs. Callum spent the first three months of his life in hospital and mum Helen Connolly, 34, and husband Mike, 35, of Gillibrand Close, who also have a ten-year-old son Nathan, feared for his life. "Callum had to have three operations and, when he did come home, he was on oxygen," said Helen.

"We didn't know what was wrong, he was a very visual baby and after a few months he was diagnosed with hearing loss.

"I felt very guilty for not realising, then another blow came when we were told he had cerebral palsy.

"Most children of his age are walking and can entertain themselves by sitting and playing but Callum can't do that," Helen added. Helen gave up her job in social services to care for Callum, but although she has a lot of support from family and friends she relies on the Smile centre for specialist help. "Visual stimulus is really important, the tactile books and the computers at Smile are a great help," she said.

For Smile centre details call Alison Thies 264051.