CUMBRIAN PARENTS have won a battle to get their children a place in specialist education.

After a group of Cumbrian parents launched a campaign for more places at specialist education school Mayfield, Cumbria County Council has worked to find a place for 12 more students who were initially denied that SEN support.

One of them is Emma Harry and Darren Hendren’s son Noah, 4 from Thornhill. He would be unable to cope in a mainstream school due to his severe learning disabilities but in January his family were told he had not been granted a place.

While his parents, and many others like them in Cumbria, were preparing a legal challenge, the authorities made a U-turn. Emma said: “I was sending his appeal off this week but we heard on Tuesday night that another parent had been told there’s been a decision change.

After an “awful” sleepless night, she was told on Wednesday morning that places had been added to Mayfield.

“I phoned his dad and we just broke down in tears.”

It was an end to a stressful period for them both, Emma said: “To be honest I think it would push a lot of parents over the edge. It’s been absolutely awful.

“You’re not sleeping, you’re still having to look after the kids and go to work.”

Emma and Darren’s next challenge is taking on Scafell Pike to raise funds for the National Autistic Society.

Emma said: “We needed something to take our attention away from that, what better excuse is there to raise funds for the Autism Society?”

A spokesperson for Cumbria County Council said: “Following further review and in light of the exceptional demand for special school places we have made provision for 12 additional places at Mayfield School.

“This will be made possible by creating additional classroom space at the school. This year there has been a high number of parents of young children seeking a reception place and these additional places will be predominantly for this purpose. Parents have now been informed.

A similar campaign last year led to additional places being made available at Mayfield.

The council said: “There is growing demand for special school places, and now in the last two years we have been able to create additional places to meet some of that demand. It will not be possible to continue to do this year on year.”