AS part of its role as a language college John Bentley School has donated nine PCs, with linguistic software, to each of its feeder primary schools.

The PCs give primary school children a first introduction to French, German, Italian and Spanish through a listening and learning package.

The computers were presented to each of the schools at the beginning of term and also include Microsoft Word and Encarta, an encyclopedia on the Internet.

St Dunstan School, Cherhill Primary, St Edmunds, Heddington, Hilmarton, Holy Trinity, Derry Hill, Bromham and Priestley have been given computers.

Catherine Meacher, 28, who is in charge of ICT in the language department at John Bentley School, said: "The main reason the computers have been donated is for the language software they possess.

"We are introducing languages more into primary schools and through the computers children can familiarise themselves with a foreign language."

At St Edmund's, ten and 11-year-old children in year six have been using the computers.

Year six teacher Kelly Dunne said a foreign language is not part of the curriculum but the children used the software in their own time, and half an hour was set aside every two weeks to practise the languages.

"It is fostering positive attitudes towards foreign language learning and helps the children develop language learning skills in a fun and non-pressurising environment," she said.