School victory for Emily (From Free Press Series)

School victory for Emily

LITTLE Emily Chicken rejoined her old schoolpals at St David's School yesterday after her parents successfully appealed to Monmouthshire Council for her to be transferred.

Eight year old Emily, of Western Road, Abergavenny, has been diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, a rare illness which affects only girls and halts their normal development, so she stopped speaking when she was 18 months old.

The brave youngster attended Llwynu Infants School until last July - but then had to leave her friends behind to attend a special unit at Overmonnow Primary School, Monmouth.

But her parents Neil and Sara are convinced that the long journey, and Emily's anxiety in a new environment, brought on the many seizures she has suffered in the last three months.

Mrs Chicken told the Free Press: "She has been too ill to attend school for the last 10 weeks, and without the wonderful support of my mother, me and my husband Neil would never have coped."

The couple appealed to Monmouthshire County Council to move Emily back among her friends, who now attend St.David's Junior School, Abergavenny.

After several meetings with county officials they were finally given the news they had dreamed of - that Emily could rejoin her friends yesterday when school reopened.

Mrs Chicken added: " Emily spent three days at St.David's last month and she was a different child. It's a wonderful start to 2004."

Her husband added: "We know Emily won't learn like other children, but it's all about her being happy in school."

Malcolm Morris, head of school improvement for Monmouthshire confirmed that Emily will be transferring to St.David's School. He added: "The journey to Monmouth was quite lengthy for a little one with special needs."

Mrs Chicken said she would be starting a campaign in the New Year for the new primary school being built in Abergavenny to have a unit for special needs similar to the one in Overmonnow.

She will be contacting other parents through the Special Needs Group which exists in Abergavenny.

She added: "We want the type of unit which provides sensory equipment and a place for children to lie down when they feel ill, which other units do not have."

Mr Morris said the new school, which is yet to be named, will have areas for pupils with special needs. He added: " It will be an expansion of what was available at Llwynu Infants School."