In 2017, my cousin Daisy, aged 5, was due to start at a local, mainstream primary school. However, shortly before starting, the school informed my Aunt and Uncle that they did not know how they could manage her needs.

Daisy has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and is very reliant on extra supervision. The decision was made to look for a school which would be better able to support Daisy’s needs. 4 months later Daisy was being homeschooled as none of the mainstream schools were able to do this. 

In November they visited Gesher Primary School and were totally blown away by the support they could offer Daisy.

Since starting at Gesher Primary School, Daisy has gone from strength to strength and is exceeding all expectations. She is thriving at Gesher and absolutely loves her school.

All staff at Gesher have extensive Autism training with a  staff-pupil ratio of 1 teaching assistant for every 2 children.  The classroom and school have been adapted to create an Autism-friendly environment. In addition, all children receive regular speech, drama, and occupational therapy.

Needless to say, in order for this to be sustainable, Gesher is heavily reliant on financial support from generous donors.

And this is where I come in. At the end of July, I am going to be climbing The Three Peaks: Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon in three, consecutive days.