A NORTHWICH mum who’s been campaigning hard for more special school places has had some incredible and surprising news.

Maylinda Gaunt ‘burst into tears’ when she got an email saying her six-year-old son James had been given a special school place for this September.

James is autistic and non-verbal and has been a pupil at Barnton Community Nursery and Primary School for two-and-a-half years.  

Barnton is a mainstream school with provision for students with complex needs, though in February, teachers expressed concerns about whether it was the right place for James as he gets older. 

Maylinda said she had given up hope of a special school place, and the news James could start at Rosebank in September came ‘more or less completely out of the blue’.

The 43-year-old added: “I got a phone call from the SENCO at Barnton just before school broke up for summer asking whether Adam Westwater, Rosebank’s head teacher, could come and observe James.

“She told me not to hold my breath; it was most likely just a formality.

“Then, two hours after the visit, I had an email saying James had been accepted.

“I just burst our crying. The tears were running down my face.

James Gaunt will be taking up his place at Rosebank School this SeptemberJames Gaunt will be taking up his place at Rosebank School this September (Image: Maylinda Gaunt)

“I called my mother-in-law to tell her, and she thought something terrible had happened.

“It was honestly so unexpected, and so quick.

“When we went for a viewing at the school, I asked Mr Westwater what had made him accept James.

“He said he thought James looked lost where he was. That broke my heart into thousands of pieces.

“He explained what he meant - while other kids who were non-verbal when they started at Barnton had made progress with their speech, James had made none whatsoever.

"I think this is what set him apart."

James’s place at Rosebank is a dream come true for the family, and a huge weight off Maylinda's mind, but it doesn’t spell the end for her campaigning.

She added: “I don’t plan to stop striving now though James has got a place. It was never just about him. 

"There’s still a huge amount of work to be done, but I think with the new Labour government, it’s going to be a bit easier.

“Since my petition, which got more than 800 signatures, I been having meeting with councillors, and Andrew Cooper, who's our new MP.

“I’m also working with Northwich Town Council to help create accessible play parks.

“We’re hoping to see them in by March.”