A REPORT into child sexual exploitation across Greater Manchester has praised a pioneering project at a Trafford school.

The hard hitting report, by Stockport MP Anne Coffey, said there was a 'real and ongoing problem' that had become the new social norm in some areas of Greater Manchester.

According to Ms Coffey this would not be tackled unless there is a sea change in public attitudes away for a culture of blaming children and young people for bringing about their own sexual exploitation.

She explained: "Young people are still too often being blamed for being a victim. We need to get across the key message that whatever young people wear and however sexualised they appear, they are still children and need our protection."

In a written submission to Ms Coffey's report, Dr Bob Postlethwaite, the chairman of the Trafford Safeguarding Board, said the number of child referrals to the Sexually Exploited and Missing(SEAM) process in 2012/2013 totalled 49 and for 2013/2014(10 months) the figure was 44.

Trafford for its part, meets on a monthly basis and focuses on a multi-agency response to potential victims, it also gathers intelligence of perpetrators and problem premises.

One school which is proving a beacon for all others both nationally and in Trafford, is Flixton Girls School, which supports girls identified as being at risk. The school says the approach has been highly successful at keeping girls safe.

Dr Postlethwaite said: "The work done by Flixton Girls School in identifying risk of child sexual exploitation at school and responding to it has been recognised nationally as pathfinder work and highlighted in the recent Children's Commissioners' Report, If Only Someone had Listened'.

A spokesperson for Project Phoenix which operates specialist teams across all 10 districts of Greater Manchester, said the report was to be welcomed and no community could be complacent with regard to child safety and grooming

The spokesperson added: "We know that offenders do not respect boundaries and the single approach to measuring risk developed by the Phoenix team means that no matter where a young person lives they will receive the same consistent assessment which will inform the level of support they need.

"In 2015 Phoenix will redouble its efforts to engage with all communities to encourage victims to report this abhorrent crime and to enable us to better understand the nature and extent of the problem.

"There will be a specific focus on the most vulnerable members of society, including young people and adults with learning difficulties."