SCHOOL phobic Gemma Maisey has taken her first tentative steps on the road back to the classroom by joining a special unit in Swindon.

And her mother Sarah, of Southbrook Street, Swindon, hopes her daughter will be back in mainstream education by Christmas.

Gemma, 11, is attending the Phobic Unit at the Drove Centre in Drove Road, a special school for victims of bullying and other school-related problems.

The caring staff are slowly nursing back Gemma's confidence and coaxing her to believe in her abilities once again.

During her school day, which lasts from 9.30am until 2pm, she participates in everyday lessons like maths, English and science with nine other pupils in an environment less intense than the traditional school classroom.

The intimacy of the unit means she can more or less enjoy one-to-one tuition.

Dr Eleanor Stanton of Queens Park and Moredon surgeries, diagnosed the 11-year-old as having a phobia of school last year.

The problem started when Gemma injured her rib and was forced to take six weeks off school in September 2001 and has barely attended Hreod Parkway since.

Before she would cry, break into a cold sweat and suffer severe panic attacks at the school gates. Now her mother is beginning to see signs of the old Gemma. Sarah, 36, said: "Gemma had a couple of panic attacks last week, but since she's been in the unit she has built up a lot of confidence.

"It's been very hard for me to go from having a very happy, young daughter to seeing a depressed individual, but we are slowly getting there.

"Gemma has walked to the unit and she's happy at the moment; that's a big step forward.

"I hope she will reintegrate and be back at school fulltime by Christmas because at one stage I thought she would never go back to school."

Gemma added: "I started to get nervous about school, then it got worse and worse. I would cry and really shake sometimes. I only hope the phobic unit can get me over it.

"At the moment I'm getting to know the people and I'm enjoying the lessons and work they set us.

"I was quite nervous about starting there it will be good for me in the long run.

"I hope to be back at school by Christmas,'' she said.