THE MOTHER of the Swindon girl diagnosed with school phobia says Swindon Council has agreed to recognise her daughter's problem.

Gemma Maisey was given a doctor's note after missing more than six months of lessons at Hreod Parkway School.

The 11-year-old says she suffers from panic attacks every time she attempts to attend the school.

Her mother Sarah said she has now been contacted by the council's phobic unit, based in Drove House at the Stratton Education Centre, and has arranged a meeting for next week.

She said the national media coverage that followed the Evening Adver-tiser's story on Tuesday has made her feel her daughter's condition is finally being taken seriously.

She said: "I feel I was right to keep going and force the issue. It has made me feel a lot better in myself knowing that I am not alone.

"I think I am going to have to take Gemma out of Hreod Parkway now though she needs a new start at another school."

David Hart, the general secretary of the National Association of Head-teachers, has attacked Mrs Maisey claiming her daughter's condition is nothing more than a "classic excuse" for missing lessons.

He said: "It certainly is not a reason why a child should be kept off school.

"You have to get to the root of the pupils' problems it may be their relationship with teachers, bullying or just that they haven't settled in.

"School phobia is just an excuse for failing to attend."

But Mrs Maisey disagreed with his comments saying: "He doesn't know the case and has never met myself or Gemma.

"The Harley Street psychiatrist the national press interviewed agreed with us that forcing a child to go to school is never the right thing to do.

"I think he should meet people before jumping to his own assumptions."

And Dr John Eastgate, a child and adolescent psychiatrist based at the Child and Family Consultation Centre in Swindon, agreed with Mrs Maisey, stating that school phobia was not an uncommon condition.

He said: "It affects roughly four in every thousand pupils and can be brought on by a variety of things, such as the child having a bad experience at school or anxiety at falling behind after a period of ill health.

"It is possible to distinguish school phobia from truancy.

"A child with phobia wants to be in school but a truant feels there is a better life for them somewhere else."

Swindon Council spokesman Adrian Ruck said he was unable to comment about Gemma's case.

We broke Gemma phobia story first

WE revealed Gemma's story on Tuesday and where we led the nation's press followed.

The Sun, Star, Daily Mail, Guardian, Times, Telegraph and Western Daily Press all published the story either on Wednesday or Thursday.

It was also followed up by BBC's One O'Clock News, Radio Five, ITN and Sky News.

The article was one of several published by the Adver that are copied every week by local and national press.

So remember to stick with your Evening Advertiser for all your local news FIRST.