PARENTS from across Wyre Forest will be getting emotional next week as their 11-year-olds make the momentous step into secondary school education.

But it will be a particularly poignant day for Stourport mum Donna Reid when son Liam starts at Norton College in Worcester having once feared he’d never go to a school again.

Liam has special educational needs after developing a sensory disorder as a result of meningitis that he suffered when he was younger.

Three years ago, The Shuttle reported how Liam had been left without a school as his complicated condition meant he was unable to cope with mainstream education, leaving a distraught Mrs Reid with no choice but to teach him at home herself.

The situation took its toll with Liam not wanting to leave the house and even telling his heartbroken mother that he wanted to kill himself.

But after their plight was highlighted, Worcestershire County Council got in touch with Mrs Reid and developed a programme of support that including funding sessions at Snoezelen in Worcester as well as therapy sessions in Bristol.

And, as a result, Liam will be starting at the specialist Norton College in Worcester which caters for children who find the mainstream education system too challenging.

Mrs Reid said: “My husband CJ and I are absolutely delighted that he has found the right place for him to be. He is happy and looking forward to it to.

“He had been going to the Vale of Evesham school – which is 30 miles away from home – but he had a complete breakdown when he was seven.

“His anxiety became so bad that he did not want to leave the house and he told me that he did not want to live.

“But now he is like a completely different child. He is happy and looking forward to starting at Norton. To see our son go from wanting to end his life to someone who’s up and ready for each day is amazing.

“Norton is an independent school caters directly for the needs of each child such as Liam. Ian Hardicker, who runs it is an amazing man.

“We also had tremendous support from Ian McCrudden when he worked at the local authority. He’s now deputy head at Norton.

“I gave up my job as a fitness instructor to home school Liam but I now work with Barnardo’s charity on weekends and I also work with special needs children.

“I also run a Facebook support group for other parents going through a similar situation to us. Our story just goes to show that there is hope and never to give up.”