“In Year 1, at my old school, I was in once a week. Now I’m in nearly every day.”

In fact, when Kairan’s mum thought it best he stay home with a minor illness recently, Kairan was adamant he wanted to attend. It is quite a turn around.

For a child who struggled to express his emotions constructively, and was often overwhelmed by frustration, Kairan is articulate and insightful:

“I’m doing better. And I’m doing better at home. I get on better with my brother and sister since I started this school.”

Kairan is also aware of how he is changing, and is questioning beliefs he held about himself.

“Having Harrison, a new kid, has helped me be better with new people. I always said I didn’t like new people, but I just didn’t go near them.

“At my old school not everybody wanted to help me when I got angry, because they knew how angry I could get. So I just stayed away from new people. Then my teacher asked me to show one kid around, just explain what class is what class and where it all is. It only takes two days to know your way around the whole place, but he didn’t know where anything was so it was easy to help him. Then Harrison started. Having him as a new kid has helped me be better with new people. Then TJ started and now we three are friends.”

Kairan’s teacher Kerry explains:

“Kairan was so angry when he arrived. There were incidents every single day. But he’s learned resilience and tolerance. He is so articulate. He loves maths. He is a different boy, now, and a happy boy, which matters.”

Kairan’s message to boys and girls joining the school make no mention of maths, but reflect a typical, thriving child’s enthusiasms:

“It’s really good here. You want to come here. The teachers talk to you and help you. They’ve got everything: X-box. PS4, gym, pool room, music room with guitars and piano and drums and a xylophone.”

Thank you Kairan for sharing your experience with us.