IT'S probably the subject most schoolchildren hate most and are glad to forget during the summer holidays - but not one group of North-East youngsters.

Children in Middlesbrough have been getting a daily dose of maths to get a head start on their classmates when they return to school in a couple of weeks time.

The youngsters are attending the Kumon Study Centre, where instructor Chris Jones is giving up to 20 minutes of lessons a day.

Kumon Maths combines traditional principals of mental arithmetic and repetition with a fun and postive approach to learning. It is a combination that works as Kumon is the most successful after school maths programme in the world, and studied by 2.5 million children worldwide.

"Maintaining this study habit means they actually make progress through the summer. This means Kumon students hit the ground running in the new school term, while a lot of children have effectively had their brains switched off during the summer holidays," he said.

"With Kumon there is no failing because each child works at his or her own pace and I carefully monitor progress. Kumon's philosophy is that children enjoy learning as long as the work is at the right level - not too hard, not too easy."

For details about the Middlesbrough Kumon Study Centre, call Chris Jones on (01642) 829556.