Jenni's a fast lane learner

Life has never been easy for Jenni Cooke. Both dyslexia and a condition called dyspraxia make it hard for her to learn.Her problems might make life tricky in the classroom but when it comes to sporting excellence she's a star pupil. Wendy Roberts meets a swimming champion in the making.

A Year ago, Jenni Cooke could not read or write and was struggling in class. Teachers said the nine-year-old lacked concentration and never seemed switched on in lessons.But her her swimming skills make the Ilkeston schoolgirl a real high achiever. She has won a swag of medals and cups and travels the country to enter swimming competitions.

Being diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia, a cognitive co-ordination disorder, has not stopped Jenni chasing her dream.And in the 12 months since Jenni discovered what was wrong, she has even turned her schoolwork around and can now read and write.

"We knew Jenni had a few problems in the classroom," said mum Laura Cooke, of Ilkeston. "When the diagnosis came, we were actually quite relieved because at least we knew what the problem was. It also meant we could work to try to overcome these setbacks. It wasn't a huge shock. We were surprised to find that she couldn't read or write at the age of eight, but it meant we could actually do something about it."

Jenni, of Champion Avenue, Shipley View, has worked hard to get her schoolwork back on track, and she has also received specialist teaching at Salterford House School in Nottingham. Since her diagnosis, teachers have worked hard to build up her confidence and self-esteem in the classroom. Last year, she received a Young Achievers Award from Derbyshire County Council, because she is so happy despite her challenges.

"Being dyslexic and having dyspraxia means Jenni does things differently," said Laura. "She learns in a different way, and her movement is impaired. We joke at home and say she's got wonky wiring. Physical activities are hard to learn and difficult to retain. Dyspraxia affects each person in a different way and at different stages of development. How an individual is affected is inconsistent, too. For example, one day they may be able to perform a specific task, the next day they can't. Jenni is like this. You can tell her something and then a few minutes later she's forgotten it all."

Dyspraxia can affect any or all areas of development - intellectual, emotional, physical, language, social and sensory - and may impair the normal process of learning. Usually, it is said to be an impairment or immaturity of the organisation of movement. Associated with this may be problems of language, perception and thought.

Jenni's development is still delayed and, according to Laura, she is about two years behind her contemporaries. But when she gets into the water, she excels.

"The water acts as physiotherapy and aids Jenni's movements," said Laura, 35, who works as a nurse. "Although her strokes don't look very natural, she's very good and very fast."

Jenni now swims for clubs at Long Eaton and Belper, both as an able-bodied and a disabled swimmer. And this year, she is travelling across England and Wales, competing in swimming galas. In June, she won the Disability Sport England East Midlands Regional Swimming Gala Junior S17 class and has just reached the standard for the junior nationals.

She has done so well that her times are comparable to able-bodied swimmers and two of her entry times are faster than national records.

"It's amazing that someone with dyspraxia can swim so well," said Laura, "because the two really don't go together. Jenni has surprised us all. She has taken to the water. It's amazing. We are really proud of her."

For Jenni's dad, Garaeth, 37, watching his daughter win medals at swimming is a dream come true. Dyslexic himself, he always hoped Jenni would enjoy sport and find something she was good at. "I was rubbish in class," he said, "but I was brilliant at sports. It's quite normal for people with dyslexia to be great sportsmen and women. I'm so pleased that Jenni loves to swim. She's done remarkably well. When she swims, she is usually miles younger and loads shorter than her competitors, but she still achieves. She's so good."

Jenni spends hours of her spare time practising and goes to the pool almost every day. She started swimming at the age of three - but hated every minute of lessons and quit. A year later, Laura and Garaeth encouraged her to try again and, after a little coaxing from teachers, she did.

"I didn't like it at first," said Jenni. "And even now, sometimes I get bored just swimming lengths. But I love it when I win medals and cups, and I like taking part in competitions. I'm glad that I started swimming. It's good fun."