Nursery World - A Unique Child: Inclusion

A nursery that said 'no problem' when a mother sought a place for her brain-damaged child has made all the difference to the family, says Sue Learner - and the staff and children have benefited too.

Stacie Lewis contacted more than 50 childminders and nurseries before finding a nursery that would take her daughter May, who has severe brain damage. May's entire brain was deprived of oxygen at birth - a condition known as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy - which has left her with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, limited vision and unable to sit up without support.

'I had nurseries tell me that she would have to go on a waiting list, and I would later find out they didn't even have a waiting list. One told me they would have to prioritise May because of her special needs and that would be unfair on the other children at the nursery,' says Ms Lewis. 'These nurseries make these decisions without meeting May and without spending time with her and without realising how lovely and wonderful she is. It was really tough.'

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