Among the hundreds of tiny children swimming in their Big School uniforms and starting kindy in the next week or two is Sophia Sweetman.

It’s a big change for the six-year-old with Down syndrome, who will be starting at Quirindi Public School in a mainstream class.

And it’s an anxious time for her mother Jenny.

Mrs Sweetman said Sophia had attended school for a couple of hours a week during the last two terms of 2017 to help her transition.

”She’ll only start one hour a day for the first week or so, and then we’ll review that to see how she goes,” she said.

Mrs Sweetman said she’d decided to enrol Sophia in a mainstream class because she felt it was beneficial to her and her classmates.

“She will learn by copying the other kids,” she said.

“I felt it was important for her to teach the other kids how to react and learn by her as well: out in the real world they’re not segregated … they get to learn that everybody is different.”

Sophia is non-verbal and communicates through signing and pointing to pictures.

Her mum said she loved music, dancing and interacting with people, and disliked “being confined – she’s determined and likes to do her own thing”.

Mrs Sweetman said that as much as it would be a challenge for Sophia to adjust, she could appreciate it would also be one for her new teachers and aides.

“Going into a new environment, the teachers have got to learn how to understand her as well.”

Sophia has three older sisters and an older brother, and nine-year-old Emily will be at Quirindi Public to keep an eye on her.

“She’s excited, she can’t wait,” Mrs Sweetman said.

“Eventually they will catch the bus together; we haven’t worked out if I will do it with Sophia to begin with.”

Mrs Sweetman said she was more concerned with Sophia’s experience of school than her educational achievements.

“I think everyone is stressed out when their child starts school, but I think it’s more so when you have a child with special needs,” she said.

“I’m anxious, scared, especially because she’s non-verbal and can’t come home and tell me if something’s happened … 

“But to me, as long as she’s happy, healthy and accepted, I’m happy.

“I want her to be accepted like everyone else, to have the same opportunities as every other kid, that’s all I ask for.

“I’m not too worried about five plus five – it’s more about acceptance and being included.”