Mum praises Send provision as £6.5m school planned

Mary Reed was told that her son Sid, 15, might never read or write, but he is now reading at the age of a 12 year old

A mother has praised the special educational needs (Send) provision provided for her son, following the announcement Wiltshire Council is going to invest £6.5 million in a new Send school.

Mary Reed's son Sid, 15, has a rare genetic disorder which affects his learning development and behaviour.

She has praised the difference that dedicated special needs education had made after the local village primary school was unable to meet his needs.

Councillor John Hubbard, cabinet member for children's services said the new Exeter House School in Ludgershall would make it possible for all children to " have the choice to be educated in Wiltshire".

The new school will be located on the grounds of Wellington Academy in Ludgershall, and is intended to serve 120 children with special educational needs.

Ms Reed, who lives near Devizes, said that having started in a regular infant school, it became clear from an early age that Sid needed a different kind of support.

"Sid started off in mainstream education until he was about four or five," she said.

"We didn't know that Sid has special needs, but it gradually dawned on us.

"His little village primary school tried very hard to accommodate those needs, but it just got too much for all of us and that's when he went to a specialist setting," she added.

'We are delighted'

She praised the "confidence of the teachers" at his new school, saying the move "was a huge weight off her shoulders".

"Times were very hard before he went to specialist school. He seems very happy now," she said.

"Amazingly, we were told he might never read or write. He didn't start talking until he was eight.

"He's now reading at the age of a 12 year old, and we're delighted with that."

Sid is also helping his aunt at her restaurant and has taken up guitar lessons.