The work of a special needs team at a Ceredigion primary school has been recognised with a national award from charity Epilepsy Action.

The Pili Pala unit at Penparcau’s Ysgol Llwyn yr Eos have been hailed as ‘Helping Hand Heroes’ by charity Epilepsy Action, as part of their 2020 Helping Hands Awards.

They were nominated for the award by local parent Ruth Jenkins-Hughes, whose daughter Seren Hughes has “thrived” in their care since starting school a year ago.

Seren, 11, has had complex uncontrolled epilepsy since birth, experiencing up to 100 seizures a day. She has undergone three lots of complex major brain surgery.

Before September 2019, Seren spent 18 months out of education because the family could not find a mainstream school that would support her.

Pili Pala is the special needs unit at Llwyn yr Eos and is made up of one teacher and eight teaching assistants, including teacher Laura Mayos and Seren’s two one-to-ones, Michelle Mansell and Janice Jones.

Since joining the school, the Pili Pala team have “given Seren and mum Ruth their lives back”.

For the first time ever, Seren took part in a Christmas production and has been busy making friends.

During lockdown, when Seren was shielding, the staff kept in touch with the family in thoughtful ways.

Ruth said: “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making Seren feel like a normal child.

“In her previous school, she never had friends. She was never invited to a party or a play date. Now, Seren is encouraged to mix with the mainstream children and they all accept her.

“The change in her is just amazing – Seren is flying. She is free from all the stress of school life. The Pili Pala ladies are angels.

“They’ve made Seren feel like family and encouraged her to be herself. Seren can have a seizure in school and feel safe. As parents, we have so much confidence in them all.”

Accepting the award, Laura Mayos said: “We are in total shock to receive this award but so over the moon. It’s a pleasure to have Seren as part of the Pili Pala family.

“We greatly believe in inclusion here and pride ourselves in having experienced staff to take on her care, so she can experience real school life and give the family the break that they need.

“We will continue to support Seren and her family for however long they need us. Thank you for this amazing award.”