IT is nearly a decade since the then shadow education secretary David Blunkett was infamously chased by angry National Union of Teachers' delegates in Blackpool.

And it is reassuring to see that the mood at this year's NUT conference in Harrogate has been noticeably less militant than in recent years.

Yes, we have seen threats of strikes and industrial action if classroom assistants are allowed to replace qualified teachers and if budget cuts lead to job losses.

But last year's ballot on a potential boycott of primary school tests, in which not enough members felt strongly enough to register a vote, sent a clear signal that there is no real appetite for classroom disruption.

While welcoming the additional investment in schools which has clearly been made under this Government, we share teachers' concerns about increased bureaucracy.

And we have particular sympathy with those who have an instinctive dislike of the testing of children as young as five.

Of course there is a need for teaching standards and the progress of pupils to be monitored.

But there is also a need for a balanced approach in which the Government's obsession with league tables is kept in perspective and the value of learning through play is not forgotten.

We fully support moves by the teaching unions to continue their campaign to persuade the Government of the need for that balance.

But the NUT executive is right to resist renewed calls for a boycott of primary school testing and instead aim to build a coalition of parents and governors to keep up the pressure for change.

The majority of teachers want that change but do not want to resolve to industrial action and classroom disruption.

The Government would be ill-advised to interpret this mood of moderation as a sign of weakness.