Mum moves half way around world to help son

When it became obvious her son needed help to communicate, Tegan Anae moved countries to give him a second chance.

Tegan Anae with her son Sio, 5, at the Glenleighden School in Fig Tree Pocket. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

Would you move countries, with the prospect of seeing your family only once every few months, just to get your child into a good school?

Tegan Anae did and has never regretted it.

Ms Anae and her husband albert, a professional rugby player formerly with the Queensland Reds, were living in Japan when they decided their son Sio, now 5, needed proper help with his speech and language challenges.

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She began researching options after Sio had to leave two English-language schools because of his speech disorder.

His teachers were unable to communicate with him, leading to Sio becoming disruptive.

The family came across the Glenleighden School in Fig Tree Pocket, which has developed an international reputation for its work with children from Prep to Year 12.

“My mum also has a work colleague who has a child there. It was exactly what we wanted in a school — we basically signed up that day,’’ Ms Anae said.

“It hasn’t been easy. Albert has had to stay behind in Japan (where he plays for a local rugby team) and we go there on school or work holidays.

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“We try to see each other every eight to 10 weeks, sometimes it’s a bit more, sometimes less.

“But it’s been worth it seeing the improvement in Sio.’’

He has been attending the school since April.

When he started he was using only two-word sentences and was constantly angry and naughty.

But now he loves going to school, rarely misbehaves and is speaking in whole sentences.

“We’re here for the time being. Glenleighden tell you when your child is ready to transition to (mainstream) schools,’’ Ms Anae said.

“But our hope is we will all be back together by the end of next year.’’

The Glenleighden School was started in 1976 by Mancel Ellis Robinson, who recognised children with speech and language disorders needed a unique school to help them thrive.

Over the following four decades it has perfected a multidisciplinary program that is the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere that serves foundation to Year 12 students.