TRAFFORD METROPOLITAN BOROUGH	     News Release



						Date:	30 September 2005
						Ref:	KG/NR/171/05


STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS ENQUIRY

Trafford Council's Executive Director of Children and Young People's
Service Chris Pratt said: "Schools work under delegated powers,
meaning they are able to bring in a variety of organisations of their
choice as appropriate to support the educational curriculum.

"The Local Education Authority would advise schools if they were aware
of any concerns about individual organisations. Information recently
brought to our attention has resulted in advice being issued advising
schools not to work with a particular organisation," he said.

Trafford North Primary Care Trust and Trafford South Primary Care
Trust said: "The Trusts, in conjunction with the Council's Children
and Young People's Service have advised that schools seek advice from
the Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) and from the Healthy Schools
Drug Education Worker, with regard to the delivery and commissioning
of drug education services in schools, to ensure that high quality and
consistent information is received by pupils.

The Healthy Schools Scheme addresses the issue of drug education in
both primary and secondary schools in line with guidance from the
DfEs, which encourages all schools to "respond to drugs effectively by
having a well-planned drug education programme which takes account of
the needs of pupils." (Drugs: Guidance for Schools, 2004).

The safety of children and the appropriate handling of child
protection issues is of fundamental importance to the PCTs and the
Healthy Schools scheme and we will continue to work in partnership
with the Council and the DAAT to ensure this is achieved."
Ends

For more information about this press statement please contact:
   Karen Galvin, Press Officer, on 0161 912 1136