WHEN Affetside and St Paul's (Ramsbottom) primary schools were closed last summer the education department, as a gesture of goodwill towards the displaced pupils, agreed to assist parents towards the purchasing of new school uniforms to an amount of £15 per child.

The director of education personally responded to my concerns that the monies had not been forthcoming, and arranged for it to be distributed to schools prior to the Easter holidays this year.

However, it has been drawn to my attention by some parents that they have still not received the uniform allowance.

As I am not in contact with all parents and their children who are now scattered among schools throughout the borough, may I express to them via the Radcliffe Times my understanding that children who were forced to change school due to closure were each allocated the £15 "no strings attached" allowance. This did not have to be applied for.

Parents who have not yet received it should pursue the issue with the head teacher of their child's new school. Any head teacher who claims to have no knowledge of it should surely be able to contact the LEA for clarification.

It is a small, but important, right won for the children who suffered school closure in 2003 and a right which the parents, who incurred extra costs, more than deserve.

DAWN ROBINSON-WALSH