A RENTON mum has shared her immense pride at her six-year-old daughter who has shown “incredible determination” to overcome severe speech problems.

Louise Ann McFettridge also expressed her gratitude to all of the professionals, who have helped and supported daughter Jenna on the road to success.

The primary two pupil, who turns seven in March, had hearing issues for the first two years of her life and was diagnosed with a severe phonological disorder at the age of three.

Children with phonological disorder, which is a type of speech sound disorder, do not use some or all of the speech sounds to form words as expected for a child of their age.

Jenna had two operations at the ages of two and four to rectify her hearing issues and began receiving speech therapy from a young age.

But now, thanks to the youngster’s hard work and the expertise of speech therapists and her teachers, particularly Ms McKinnon at the Rainbow Base in Faifley, Jenna’s speech has been transformed.

Proud mum Louise Ann said: “Jenna’s speech is so clear now and last month we got the amazing news that she has been discharged from speech therapy and her speech is now completely age appropriate.

“We are so proud of her. We cannot believe how well she has done. The whole family are amazed by her and how hard she has worked to get where she is now. We love her so much.”

Jenna attended the two to three room in Ferryfield Early Learning and Child Care Centre in Alexandria before attending the Riverside ELCC in Renton, where her mum worked, from the age of three.

In order to receive the support she required, for the past year and a half Jenna has been attending the Rainbow Base, at St Joseph’s Primary in Faifley, in the morning before travelling to Dumbarton to spend the afternoon at Knoxland Primary.

But Louise Ann said her daughter has never let her struggles or the inconvenience of travelling between two schools get her down.

She said: “Jenna has never let any of this affect her or phase her. She’s so resilient and has taken it all in her stride.”

Due to her progress, from next month Jenna will be gradually spending more time at Knoxland.

In June she will leave the Rainbow Base to join her older sister Lucy at primary full-time.

Ahead of the transition, Louise Ann and husband Michael wished to thank all of the professionals who have supported their daughter, particularly her teacher during primary one and two Ms McKinnon.

Louise Ann added: “Myself, and my family would personally like to thank all of the professionals who have worked with Jenna over the years and every one played a part in helping Jenna reach this stage in her little life.

“Special thanks to Ferryfield ELCC, Riverside ELCC, speech and language staff, Knoxland primary school and a huge thanks to all the staff at the Rainbow Base and St Joseph’s primary school.

“Ms McKinnon has been so supportive to Jenna and has bonded really well with her. Jenna will really miss her. She would not be where she is today (without her).

“Rainbow room has helped with everything – her language, maths and her speech. They have been brilliant. St Joseph’s as a whole has been brilliant, the way they have included her from the head teacher to the janitor. She will really miss it there when she leaves, so it is bittersweet.”