YOUNGSTERS at a Dorset school showed improved concentration and performed better in national assessment tests after being given a dietary supplement for several weeks.

During the study carried out at King's Park Primary in Boscombe, Bournemouth, 110 children were given a free daily dose of omega-3 essential fatty acid - found in fish oils, nuts and seeds - for a term.

Questionnaires completed for each child by parents and teachers showed that the pupils' attentiveness and concentration improved by as much as 47 per cent, with many becoming calmer and more receptive to learning.

Head teacher Orianna Dalton said: "Apparently you should have two portions of oily fish a week, but children are not going to be getting that much. During the trial, the supplement was free, but a number of parents are continuing to provide it.

"Some parents have come in and said what a difference it's made. There were some children where there wasn't a noticeable difference."

The school is already one of the few state primaries in Dorset to provide nutritious hot lunches, which will be available to all years from July. At the moment, about a quarter of children at the school have the meals.

"We have also been looking at things like the impact of allowing children to drink water regularly. A good diet does make a difference. I think you forget how serious the impact can be if children don't have a balanced diet," said Mrs Dalton.

The King's Park study, carried out by Haliborange Omega-3 for Kids Chewy Fruit Bursts, appears to confirm the findings of Oxford University research, which found that 40 per cent of children given omega-3 supplements made big improvements in reading, spelling, concentration and behaviour.

Community dietician Clare Hindess said: "There have been lots of anecdotal studies.

"The Oxford one is the first to be fully written up and published. At the moment, there isn't enough evidence to say children should have a supplement. Children should be encouraged to include oily fish as part of a healthy, balanced, varied diet."

First published: May 10