IN RESPONSE to the small article about a school wanting to ban sweets for birthdays (The Press, April 24), having worked in schools for many years, I can say that the whole birthday sweet-giving gesture is fantastic.

It helps with children’s social skills; they take the limelight on a special day and probably interact with a classmate, whom they very rarely speak to.

As a child thanks them they quite often make conversation. Some children don’t get sweets on a regular basis, so it’s a treat for them.

And finally as I can speak with first-hand knowledge, I would like to suggest that the staffroom has less coffee, tea, cakes and treats and purchases a book themselves.

T Williams, York.