I READ with some dismay Clare Cook's article "Spreading the word about language gap" (LET, December 16).

The basic premise of the article, that there is a gap between the modern language skills of primary pupils in Lancashire and those on the continent, is essentially sound.

This gap is apparent at all levels of the pre-university elements of the education system, if not beyond, and exists nationwide. The gap exists for many reasons, some of them discussed in the article, but can be summed up by the fact that, historically and culturally, we as a nation do not fully value language study as highly as our European counterparts.

If we are honest we have always believed that we have never needed to. People living in Northern Germany, Holland and Belgium, have a basic need to be multi-lingual if they are to succeed in their much more cosmopolitan societies. We do not.

However, my objection to the article is based on the way schools which are making efforts to redress the imbalance are negatively presented in the article. You referred to a project we have embarked on at Water School, along with several other primary schools in Rossendale, co-ordinated by Dennis Farren from All Saints High School.

We exchange e-mails with children at Clement August Schule in Bocholt. The teachers also write to each other. Future joint projects are being discussed at the moment.

This project will help develop, at the very least, some interest in and understanding of the wider world, but will lead on to some modern language study. Rather than celebrating schools which are taking a lead in developing modern language study, the tone of your article comes as a slap in the face to schools working hard to identify and address aspects of our schools and communities we need to develop.

It is true that German children have a greater knowledge of English than ours do of German, however, to suggest that they read and write their e-mails in English is nonsense. What they do have, which is a rare feature in British primary schools, is a member of staff who can translate for them and has the skills to teach a modern foreign language.

This has got to be the way forward but needs a long-term, national strategy, fully backed up by necessary funding, and a review of an already overcrowded curriculum. It will also require proper staffing, but with the current recruitment crisis in education set to continue this looks unlikely.

I would be concerned that a government strategy would impose more unrealistic targets and so the "blame" could again be passed on to schools and teachers.

I would have hoped that the Lancashire Evening Telegraph could have looked at our school and recognised how we are attempting to address the issue and what we are trying to achieve, rather than the blanket unthinking criticism which the article implies.

KEITH PARKINSON (Headteacher), Water School, Burnley Road East, Water, Rossendale.