Boy ‘saved’ from school

Bright-natured and friendly but considered to be mentally and physically about two years behind his age, Samual plays at home, and (above)with mum Nola.                                                                                                                                                            Pictures: Stewart Chambers.Bright-natured and friendly but considered to be mentally and physically about two years behind his age, Samual plays at home, and (above)with mum Nola. Pictures: Stewart Chambers.

By Paul Dunlop
A PAKENHAM mum has won a fight to stop her son from being sent to school.
Nola Ellis’s five-year-old boy, Samual, suffers from cystic fibrosis, epilepsy and asthma and has speech and developmental delays.
Born with a unique genetic defect, Samual is bright-natured and friendly, but considered to be mentally and physically about two years behind his age.
Mrs Ellis and husband Michael feared that putting Samual into school next year could hamper his development.
So they were thrilled last week to learn that their long-running battle with the State Government had been successful.
A letter arrived on Wednesday from the Department of Education and Training advising the family that approval had been granted to delay Samual’s admission to school.
Mrs Ellis said she was overjoyed that their fight had been won.
Mrs Ellis said her main concern was the welfare of her son.
“I was dreadfully worried that if we put Samual into school next year he was not going to cope,” she said.
“It could have put a huge dent in his self-esteem and his confidence.
“Why send a child to school if they are physically and mentally not ready?”
Samual, who will turn six in February, currently attends four-year-old kinder at Pakenham’s Chairo Christian College.
The Ellis family were supported in their bid by Samual’s kindergarten teacher and a host of medical experts.
Samual’s teacher, Noelene Power, said she was convinced he would benefit from another year at kinder.
“He has tremendous potential and this will allow him to make the most of it,” she said.
“There is no doubt in my mind about this.”
Government officials had initially argued it would be in Samual’s best interests to begin school alongside children of his own age.
Mrs Ellis said she had been angered and upset to be told by somebody who had never met her son that the decision was in his best interests.
Mrs Ellis said Samual was a happy child but suffered from many medical conditions that meant he may struggle in a classroom environment. She said physically he may also be unable to cope with five full school days.
The family remains unsure whether the Department of Human Services will agree to fund the extra year but say they are prepared to pay the estimated $4500 school costs out of their own pocket.
A spokesman from the Department of Education and Training said the decision to allow Samual to spend another year at kinder was decided in his best interests.
He said it was expected that Samual would start school in 2007.