MADDIE Wells wasn’t coping at her school. She had been diagnosed with autism, and kept having meltdowns because she couldn’t deal with the emotional stress of being in the classroom.

She was on a reduced timetable anyway, but her mum and dad kept having to pick her up early from the headteacher’s office. She was struggling with mental health issues.

In May, they decided to switch her to Brading C of E Primary School, which has specialist, small classes for children with special educational needs. Within two weeks, Steph and Matt Wells could see that staff really understood her. Maddie, who is now aged eight, was placed in a class with others who have physical and sensory needs, where pupils intersperse their learning with physical activities to help them to concentrate.

“They are on Maddie’s wavelength,” said Steph. “The class sizes are smaller, she has been able to bond with experienced staff, and she is engaging with lessons and learning things. She is happy and wants to go to school, and she’s having no meltdowns, which is a major step forward.

“And she is doing full days there. I couldn’t remember the last time she’d done five full days in a week at school. She’s even come home with three merit certificates, which brought tears to our eyes.”

However, two days into this term came the announcement from the Isle of Wight Council that they are considering closing the school - alongside Oakfield C of E Primary in Ryde and Arreton St George's C of E Primary. It was devastating for the family, who now worry that Maddie will have to go through a major upheaval.

“It’s a great place as the school’s ethos revolves around the children,” said Steph. “It’s so worrying for us when we can see how happy she is now. If the school closes, we’ll have to home-school her. Given that the council have said that special needs is a big issue on the island, I don’t know why they want to close a school that is so good at helping children with special needs.”