EastEnders star Kellie Bright shared an emotional message about the long process of getting an Educational Health Care (EHC) assessment for her son.
The Linda Carter actress, 47, who is mum to Freddie, 11, Gene, 6, and Rudy, 1, shared a heartwarming Instagram post about her son who has special educational needs (SEN).
In the video, the former Strictly Come Dancing star says that she ‘wouldn’t normally put such a personal message’ on social media but feels ‘it’s a really important moment to share’.
She began: ‘I am the mother of a child with SEN. For those of you that don’t know, that’s Special Educational Needs. It’s also called SEND, which is Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
‘Myself and my husband have been fighting for an EHC assessment since March of this year. We were initially turned down. We then tried mediation and they just didn’t come back to us with a date at all, and so we then pursued an appeal.’
She continued: ‘We were in the middle of an appeal process going to a paper tribunal, which would have been at the end of December, beginning of January. About three or four weeks ago we had to resubmit all of our paperwork to our local authority and to the tribunal.’
Kellie had an emotional moment as she revealed that an assessment has finally been agreed, sharing: ‘I have just received an email to say that they have agreed to assess my son.
‘Now in no way does this mean he will reach the needs of the assessment and get the help and support that we think he needs, but it is a step closer, and it has been eight months of such hard work and perseverance and fighting to get to this point.’
She concluded: ‘And I am really happy, but I have cried a lot of tears. It feels like a momentous day. So good luck anyone else who’s in the same position.’
Kellie was met with outpouring support from former EastEnders co-stars including Rose Ayling-Ellis (Frankie Lewis) replying: ‘Your son is lucky to have you both as his parents who won’t give up fighting. The system is rigid and messy. Sending you lots of love ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️’
As for Kellie’s alter-ego Linda, herlife isn’t going to get any easier in the coming months, with the character set to be involved in a huge murder storyline, which was teased several months ago during a historic flash-forward sequence.
The scene in question saw Linda and a number of her fellow Walford women standing over a deceased male corpse, whose identity has thus far been withheld.
‘I am excited [about The Six storyline]’ enthused Kellie. ‘For me, when I have a big storyline, I still get a nervous tummy and butterflies. I really want it to be great, and I know I have to deliver.
‘I am excited to be working with the other five women and doing some really good, juicy stuff with them. I love the fact that we’ve had this secret building on the show for the whole year, and it’s really clever.
‘I love the fact that I am part of something that hasn’t been done before, so I’m really embracing that. I feel like I’m at the foot of the mountain, about to set off for the climb, and although I know it’ll be magnificent at the top, it’s still a climb to get there!’
