At the age of just three, gifted little Freddie Alsey can already rattle off times tables, read books, name the planets in order and pinpoint numerous countries on a globe.

And the super-smart youngster's thirst for knowledge is growing so fast that his mum can barely keep up with him.

Freddie Alsey can rattle off times tables and pinpoint countries on a globe

Staff at the Castle pre-school he attends in Whitstable have also spotted his advanced abilities and suggested he has an IQ test.

"He was a bit of a slow starter with talking but is just racing away now and I just want to give him the best opportunity," said mum Rachael, 30, who lives in Northwood Road in the town.

Freddie is her only child, who she is raising alone. She dedicates as much time as possible to his learning, when not working as a senior care worker.

"I was amazed how quickly his vocabulary developed and he began to work out reading words and doing sums," she said.

"He was even teaching the alphabet to another little boy at pre-school.

"He just loves books and stories, and his reading level seems quite exceptional for a three-year-old.

"He also has a fascination with space and the planets and can name them in order and their features, like which is the biggest, smallest, furthest away, hottest and even which are the gas planets."

Like any lively three-year-old, Freddie likes the rough and tumble of play but will soon stop to pick up a book.

Rachael posted a short video of Freddie reading on the Whitstable Mum Chat Facebook page, saying: "I just feel like I can’t support all the things he wants to learn, and maybe a teacher has some ideas of things I can do with him or tutoring for him to advance his knowledge."

The post prompted numerous comments of support and advice from other parents, some urging her not to neglect Freddie's playtime.

"I know his playtime is a very important part of his development and he is very active and plays from the second he wakes up," said Rachael.

"But he's obsessed with learning and will put on his own educational videos.

"His gran and grandad are also very supportive and spend a lot of time with him reading and doing puzzles, which he loves.

"I’d just like some advice on how to support him and how best he can advance his academic skills."

The youngest UK member of Mensa is three-year-old Kashe Quest from Wales, who was only two when tested and recorded an IQ of 146 - the average being 98.