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Fun school, eh? You gotta be joking! All those sports lessons freezing your bits off on the playing fields at sub-zero temperatures, butch games mistresses and inedible din-dins. Fortunately, things are changing - those awfully nice Europress bods have released two educational software packages, for five-to-sevens and seven-to-elevens respectively.

The infants package kicks off with a word game, where you help Freddie the Frog sort a pile of library books into alphabetical order. When completed, Freddie bounces a few basketballs around with you selecting the next number in a given sequence.

If you're right, he scores; if not, he misses. After all that hard word, Freddie feels a little peckish, so it's off to the shops to buy some food. Make sure you use the right coins, though - otherwise it's decapitation time!

On arriving home, Freddie finds some of the logs in his log cabin have vanished (oh horrors!). Help replace them by doing a series of sums, then answer some 'opposite' questions to get the crocodile out of the pond (avoiding references to wide-mouthed frogs). Finally, plod away on the keyboard in a simple typing exercise.

The first thing you notice about Fun School: 5-7s is the amazing graphics - they're really superb! With plenty of colour and hilarious animation, it's a real treat to the eyes.

Personally I'd say some of the exercises are a bit steep, for example number sequences will mean little to the average five-year-old who is still learning to count through association. Still, the overall standard is high, and most kids of this age should find something they like here.

The seven-to-elevens package starts with a history lesson, in which you must help Spy (the new character) break into a pyramid by identifying the dates of important historical events.

On earlier levels only the correct century is required, demands becoming more specific as you advance. It's very interesting, but it's a general knowledge rather than a historical exercise.

In Spy Travels you guide our budding 007 around the world as directed, to continents, countries, or cities depending on skill level. Then since the silly sausage has managed to lose all his clothes (careless chap) it's onto a maths teaser, in which you must get his kegs back by answering questions on currency exchange rates. This game is genuinely challenging and great fun.

The Spy Quiz is fun too, but lacks variety - too many questions repeat too often. Proportions does a great job of illustrating mathematical concepts, while in Timetable you learn to read a digital-display clock at the airport.

Being designed for older children, Fun School, 7-11s has less emphasis on graphics and animation, though the standard is still high. Perhaps a stronger storyline wouldn't have gone amiss, but this is a minor niggle - it's still a great package.

Fun School just oozes variety and class, even if one or two of its elements are imperfectly executed. The graphics range from very good to outstanding, and should certainly give the younger gamesters an incentive to progress, and both instruction manuals are excellent.

If you talked your parents into buying you a Commodore for Christmas by convincing them it was educational, then you'll probably be getting Fun School 4 for your birthday - you won't be disappointed either.