A young boy with a rare condition will miss his first day at primary school despite being no more at risk from Covid-19 than his classmates.
Like most children Ryan Henry-Macklin has been home from nursery since March.
But unlike most children the four-year-old has Treacher-Collins syndrome, a disorder which stops the bones in his face from forming properly.
The condition was brought into the limelight by the hit 2017 film Wonder.
In the film Jacob Tremblay stars alongside Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as Auggie, a character with Treacher-Collins who covers up his face by wearing a space helmet.
Ryan does not hide away from the world in the same way, but he does have some serious medical challenges.
Ryan's small jaw and upper airway means that his tongue could block his airway any moment, causing him to fatally choke.
So that Ryan can breath properly he has had a tracheostemy, a tube that has been inserted into his neck.
When out of the house he wears a humidifier and a bib, which means his breathing device is neatly contained when he clears it by coughing.
Despite the fact Ryan does not cough anymore than other children, government guidelines suggest the act could up the risk of coronavirus infections in the classroom.
To further complicate things, Ryan's school in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, does not have a designated room where a carer can help adjust his device.
As a result the young boy and others who have tracheostemies had has no idea when he'll be able to start big school.
"I want him there on the first day," his mum Victoria told Mirror Online.
"He has a feeding tube, two hearing aids and he looks very different.
"He already has a lot to contend with.
"I want him to start on the day when his peers do so that he can build relationships."
Victoria has spoken to many healthcare professionals who do not think children with tracheostomies are more likely to spread the virus than their classmates.
They have told her its safe for Ryan, a keen pianist, to go back to school.
They have advised her that he is at no greater risk of suffering serious harm from the coronavirus than other children his age.
And yet current regulations mean he will miss the crucial first months of his schooling career.
"Those first few days are very important, especially for children like Ryan," Victoria continued.
"He is very excited about going to school.
"He was only at nursery for a year and two months."
Recently Ryan received a de-shielding letter from Addenbrooke's Hospital, meaning he has been cleared to go outside again.
Victoria added: "The letter says he is no more at risk than other children and is not a risk to others.
"Public Health England needs to find a way for these children to go to school rather than preventing them."
Victoria, who also has the genetic condition and suffered taunts from her classmates about her appearance, has written a letter to the education secretary Gavin Williamson asking for his help.
She has also launched a petition in a bid to build pressure on the government to change its guidelines and accommodate children who have had a tracheostemy.
