A TOT with four-limb cerebral palsy has started school, to the delight of her parents.

Two-year-old Neave Evans cannot walk, sit or crawl, and will be the youngest child at special school White Ash, in Oswaldtwistle. The Great Harwood youngster is so small, her uniform has been specially ordered.

Proud dad Jan said: “She was assessed for the last six to eight months, and we finally got accepted in mid-December, so off she went on Monday, and she came home full of smiles.

“She has started in nursery with special care, and she is mixing with other kids. It will bring her on in leaps and bounds.”

Neave will attend school two days a week, and continue to receive therapy at The Legacy Rainbow House.

Deputy headteacher Sarah Holt said: “We offer a holistic approach. Personalised learning includes therapy and multi-sensory education. We look at how we can meet their needs best.”

Just before Christmas, Neave had an operation at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to replace a feeding tube in her stomach.

Money recently raised by local businesses and Neave’s family and friends will be put towards a sensory room when the family moves house. Jan said: We have been advised our house is not suitable for Neave. She needs ground floor accommodation, so we are starting house hunting. By the time this is done we should be pretty close to having raised enough money to build the sensory room for her, which will be fantastic.”

Staff from several Great Harwood businesses recently raised £430 with a swimathon and Lorraine Thornber, who works at LTC Recruitment in Rishton, raised more than £1,000 climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Wilpshire Wanderers will auction a Match of the Day script signed by Gary Lineker, with the proceeds for Neave. And Clitheroe Grammar School also donated £500 from its Christmas carol service collection.

Jan added: “We have had some wonderful support. People’s kindness and generosity still continues to stagger us.”