clearly, Derricka Golding had a tough time getting into pre-school, much less a "regular'' primary school.

Derricka was placed at the Island's oldest special school, Friendship Vale, where she gained confidence and blossomed.

During her four years there, and by numerous visits to Boston's Children's Hospital, her speech became clearer and she was able to overcome uncontrollable shaking which was caused by her disorder.

And last year, her parents were told that they no longer needed to take her back to Boston so often. Derricka was progressing well and only needed to be in an environment where she could progress, her mother Mrs. Tanya Sutton said she was told.

So when she learned that Friendship Vale would close its doors for good in June this year, Mrs. Sutton said she was determined not to have her daughter placed in another special school.

"She was supposed to go to Woodlands,'' Mrs. Sutton said. "But I fought for her to go to Dellwood.

"My goal is to see that my child reaches the highest of heights.'' Mrs. Sutton said education officers, who recommended that her daughter attend another special school, are now "shocked'' by her progress.

"She was only in school two weeks and I had an education officer visit me to say how pleased he was with her progress,'' she said.

Eight-year-old Derricka along with and nine other students, ranging in age from two to 17, transferred to Elliott Primary, Prospect Primary, Dellwood Primary, or Northlands Secondary in September.

And while educators reported some teething problems, the overall consensus is that the transition has been a fairly smooth one for the students and teachers.

Derricka in particular "is doing extremely well'', Dellwood's special resource teacher Mrs. Maxinne Lowe said.

While Derricka sometimes needs extra help in reading and mathematics, she attends art, music, and physical education with others in her age group.

And she has received nothing but praise from her teachers.

"She's very eager and motivated,'' said another special resource teacher, Mrs. Michelle Scott. "She's very much integrated into other classrooms as much as possible.'' Mrs. Lowe said all three of the former Friendship Vale students at Dellwood had adjusted socially.

They cannot wait to play with other students at recess and lunch time, she added.

"At first some of the kids had questions about them, but we explained things to them and they understood,'' Mrs. Lowe said.

"There is no problem with teasing because we took them around and introduced them to the children.

"Also their disabilities are not physical so it is a bit easier for them (to fit in).

"We have also been trying to give teachers a chance to adjust to the new students.'' Mrs. Lowe, who was trained in special education and worked with older students at Cedar Grove for eight years before transferring to Dellwood, said the transition has also been a big adjustment for her.

"With younger students your activities have to be short and varied,'' she explained.

"You have to be really creative and plan. But you also must realise that the plan sometimes does not work, depending on the mood of the child. That's why it's good to have a choice.

Mrs. Sutton, who played a key role in her daughter's success by exposing her to as much information as possible, stressed that there was still a need to have an early intervention programme in place for children from birth to age five.

While her daughter had made progress, Mrs. Sutton said there were still children, who because of learning or physical disabilities, cannot get into pre-schools or day care centres.

"I do not blame the people running private pre-schools or day care,'' she said. "Government needs to put in place an early intervention programme in which these children can have access to physiotherapists and any other help they need before they start primary school.

"They need to have a firm foundation so they can function well in society.'' Mrs. Sutton, who helped start the support group, Guidance and Rehabilitation for Disabled Children's Enhancement (GRACE), for parents of special children, said if Government did not put a programme in place soon, the group would have to do it.

While senior education officer of Student Services Mrs. Joeann Smith admitted that there were still some problems to be worked out with integration, such as the need for special bathrooms for wheelchair-bound boys and girls at Elliott, she said she was pleased with the overall integration of the former Friendship Vale students.

"Whenever we deal with children in arranging for changes that involve adults, you're going to get some problems,'' she said. "It does not matter how well you prepare. There are always those kinks that are unforeseen.

"But if there is commitment and a dedication by teachers, any obstacle can be overcome.'' The Education Ministry is considering developing special education courses for more teachers in January, Mrs. Smith added. And workshops on special education issues facing individual schools are planned.

INTEGRATED LEARNING -- Former Friendship Vale student Derricka Golding (right) and Sherryann Lovell listen attentively as they go through a Writing-to-Read lesson with Dellwood Primary teacher Mrs. Cecily Richardson.