Meet Maya.
Maya is a fun, happy, 9 year old who happens to have a few challenges.
Maya suffered from Selective Mutism from the age of 2 until 6 when she was unable to speak to anyone other than me (her mum!), her dad and her siblings. She was featured on "This Morning" in 2012 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkXFULOtuns. Two years later, she overcame it but this was replaced by severe anxieties.
In 2015 she was diagnosed with Severe Dyslexia, ADD and Sensory Processing Disorder. During this assessment, they identified Autistic Spectrum Disorder traits too. We are still waiting on the full assessment, however, specialist teachers and other experts believe she is autistic too.
After three failed attempts, we finally secured an Educational Health and Care plan in July 2017 which we hoped would secure her future providing extra funding to allow for all her needs. Our hopes were shattered when we discovered that because we live in Hertfordshire, their Educational Health and Care Plans are not worth the paper they are written on.
Maya is currently in Year 5. With secondary school transfers looming and knowing that we may have challenges ahead of us, we approached two local schools. Both of whom have said that without the extra funding, they would be unable to cope with Maya's needs. Further, they said they wouldn't be able to differentiate the curriculum enough for her to pass any exams, meaning that after failing GCSE English and Maths, she would be forced to retake these exams until she turns 18, leading to a lifetime of self-worth issues and a fear of failure.
There is a saying that "If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn." With that in mind, I have been researching schools and have found a school that would meet Maya’s needs in every way.
From their website: http://eger-roth.co.uk/about-us/
About our school : Who we can help?
We are a non-selective school that provides specialist support within a small, calm and caring environment. Our aim is to help our pupils achieve their full potential and to help prepare them for life once they leave school, whether that be to continue in their studies or enter the world of work. We cater for children with a range of needs, including
– *Dyslexia
– *Dyscalculia
– Dyspraxia
– *Attention difficulties, including ADD or ADHD
– *Autistic Spectrum Conditions including Asperger Syndrome
– *Speech Language and Communication needs
– Physical or mental needs
– *Emotional needs including diagnosed severe anxiety disorder
The items with an asterisk all describe Maya and as you can see, it’s a perfect fit. In addition, they have told me that they would put Maya forward only for examinations that would be within her ability to pass and adjust certification to her ability. They said they will always push children to do their best and accept that all children are different.
The items with an asterisk all describe Maya and as you can see, it’s a perfect fit. In addition, they have told me that they would put Maya forward only for examinations that would be within her ability to pass and adjust certification to her ability. They said they will always push children to do their best and accept that all children are different.
This is where our challenge starts.
The above school is a private school. Without funding, we would have no way to send Maya here. The funding needed for this school would be in the region of £8,000 a term (by my calculations from their website) which increase further by years 10-13. Over the seven years, the cost of sending her to this school would be upwards of £180,000.
We desperately need help raising the money to pay for the various reports and legal advice needed in order to take the local authority to a tribunal to try to get them to fund this school. An Educational Psychology report alone costs between £600-£1000 and we need reports from an EP, Speech and Language professional and an Occupational Therapist along with a few others dated within 6 months of the tribunal.
We hope to fight Hertfordshire for full funding, however, this is a very expensive process (we are told upwards of £35,000 with no way of claiming that back even if we win) and one we can’t afford. Donations to her appeal will go towards our fight with Hertfordshire Council and should we fail, we may up the required amount to help pay for her school fees. Any donations over and above the desired amount will be donated to the school with a request that it helps fund other children like Maya.
Please consider donating any amount, be it small or large. Every penny will help. If you'd like to make a donation, this is her link: Maya's fundraising page.
Please help us show Maya that she can be a fish and still succeed, and help us send her to a school that can change her life forever.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Aly, Brian & Maya
