LINDA Pearson usually leaves her children at the school gates at the start of the day.

But for the past two weeks she too has become a pupil at St Edward's Primary School in Rusholme, Manchester.

By returning to the classroom Linda hoped to be able to teach her children a thing or two about using a computer.

For although her youngest children Stuart and Abigail are just five and four-years-old, Linda says they already put her to shame in front of the computer screen.

At the end of the two-week course, designed and delivered by trainers from MANCAT, Linda believes she's far more able to help her own children with their homework and is starting to catch up with the IT generation.

Linda said: ''Stuart is five and I am 38, but he is more computer literate than I am. Even the little one knows how to use a computer.

''The course has been really good. I have learned to do word processing, invitations, spreadsheets and everything. I will use this to help my children. And it means that if I go back to work I will be computer literate and able to do office or database work.''

Commitment

Assistant headteacher Martin Henderson was impressed by the commitment of the parents who turned up for the course - many of whom are already planning to extend their knowledge with further courses in the New Year.

He hopes the courses will encourage increasing numbers of parents to become involved in the running of the school on an ongoing basis.

Mr Henderson said: ''I am delighted with the commitment we have seen from parents. They have been in every day. We hope to do this again and to involve more parents.''

Many of the parents decided to do the course because of the progress their children had made in the school's ICT suite.

Mr Henderson added: ''ICT is regarded as a core subject, alongside English, Maths and Science. The children get a lot out of ICT.

''This course shows that parents want to be involved in their children's education. I think that's very important. We want parents to be involved.''

Trainer Ann Murphy, from MANCAT, was pleased with the progress made by the parents.

She said: ''All children are using computers these days and parents need to understand what their children are learning.

''If they know how to use a computer they can help them with their homework. The parents came because they wanted to help their children at home and to generally understand how computers work.''

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