My son has been at Breckenbrough from the age of 9. Prior to that he was backwards and forwards between a mainstream primary and a school for children with moderate learning difficulties. Both admitted that they couldn't meet his needs socially and academically. I was trying to find a suitable school but felt that everyone else would be happy with the 'least most unsuitable' school. This is not what you want for your son and you feel as if you are the only person who can see his potential.

Luckily the education authority then suggested Breckenbrough and we came to look round.

The major difference for me was the way that staff interacted with the boys. The boys call staff by their first name but not in a 'trendy' or 'over familiar' way, there is still discipline which the boys respond to. Any problems that we worry about as parents have been dealt with before by the staff and we are very reassured by the fact that they've seen it all before. Problems are not seen as something that the boy needs disciplining for but staff get to the reason why it happened and ask what they can do to help the situation from continuing. The boys are listened to and their opinions valued.

I've stopped taking a box of tissues to annual reviews. They are not an opportunity for staff to get off their chest the appalling things that your son has done over the past year but a chance to talk about the progress made and how this can be continued.

Sorry for waffling but I'm talking about my favourite topic of conversation! I've certainly found his time at Breckenbrough much less stressful.

L.M. (Parent)