A 10-year-old girl with complex needs had her first day at a specialist school following a year-long wait for a place.

Abbie Warman, from Hoo, was pulled out of her mainstream school in January last year by her mum Jo as it could no longer support her daughter.

The youngster has autism, struggles with anxiety, and suffers from the eating disorder PICA which means she eats non-food substances and is fed through a tube.

She was enrolled at the mainstream primary school as it was suitable at the time and in line with her Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

It had a separate classroom to teach students with special educational needs (SEN) but when Abbie moved up a year the provision changed and the room was no longer.

The mum-of-two had only agreed to the school on the basis that it had this so decided to start looking for other schools.

During this time, Abbie was admitted to King’s College Hospital due to her eating disorder and had to have a life-saving operation.

Jo said her doctors also agreed that she be removed from the school so she pulled her out in January and started working with Medway Council to find a new school.

Multiple schools were considered but did not have space and although Jo found two that were suitable and offered a place, both were declined by the council.

However, after missing hundreds of days of education, Abbie is finally back in full-time education at a specialist autism school.

Jo told KentOnline: “We had to continue fighting because the council was not going to send her to the school I wanted her to go to.

“We had to provide why the other schools were unsuitable so they had no other option.

“When we found out she had been offered a place I just cried with disbelief.”

Abbie started her new school two weeks ago (January 8) and Jo said she can already see the difference being back in education has made for her daughter.

“I am so proud of her,” the 34-year-old added. “She has done a lot of firsts like getting into a taxi with strangers which was a big thing.

“She came home so bubbly wanting to tell me about her day which has never happened before.

“It is nice to see her making friends in a place where they understand her and where her needs are not too much.”

But Jo is still concerned about the lack of SEN schools there are in the county and other families who may be going through the same battle she did.

The trauma therapist added: “It was a full-time job to get her this school place and it should not have been like that.

“I had a massive advantage as I had a friend who knew the system and without them, I do not think we would have done it.

“There is hope but it is a long battle. I would tell others to keep fighting for what you know your child needs.”

Plans have resurfaced to build a special needs school in Gillingham to increase the number of school places in the area.

It is hoped the second Inspire Academy will enable it to better meet the demand.