Children's perceptions of advertisements for cigarettes.

Groups of children aged between 6 and 16 years discussed a series of advertisements, including those for cigarettes. Clear patterns emerged in their recognition of cigarette brand imagery. For example, in response to an advertisement for holidays which also presents the brand imagery of John Player Special cigarettes, 22% of primary school children and 91% of secondary school children said it advertises cigarettes. There were consistent trends in responses to the symbolism portrayed. Younger children were very much tied to what was specifically shown in the advertisements; older ones tended to perceive more complex imagery. For example, whereas 10-year-olds said people who like the advertisement for Kim cigarettes (which has symbols for drinking) would smoke and drink, some 12-year-olds and most 14- and 16-year-olds saw Kim as feminine, sociable, trendy and sporty. It seems that some 12-year-olds and most 14- and 16-year-olds perceive cigarette advertisements much in the way that young adults do; therefore advertising campaigns targeted at older teenagers and young adults are likely to present qualities which younger teenagers find attractive.

Educational provision, parental expectation and physical disability.

This research was focused firstly on the characteristics of 24 physically disabled pupils attending ordinary primary schools, and secondly on the views of their parents concerning external support services and educational provision. There was evidence that the pupils had received a considerable amount of professional attention. However, parents appeared to be disappointed by the quality of service on offer from professional agencies outside the school. By contrast, they expressed strong satisfaction with the response of teachers to the needs of their children.