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UK Wedding News

23/06/2016

Melanie Sykes 'On Good Terms' With Ex

Melanie Sykes has revealed she is now on good terms with her ex-husband Daniel Caltagirone. Making a joint appearance on ITV's This Morning, the couple were discussing their struggle to find a school for their son, Valentino, who is autistic, and said they wanted to help other parents who were going through a similar situation.

Sykes told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield how her son was diagnosed with "highly functioning" autism at the age of two. Valentino is now 12-years-old, but his parents admitted that they are looking for a place for him at a suitable secondary school after they were told that mainstream education would not be suitable for the boy.

The 45-year-old television personality said: "We have seen a lot of schools and it had been a bit depressing. Some of the provisions have been hellish for those with autism and there is little understanding of what they need."

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She also said they had tried placing Valentino in a specialist school for those with autism but as the needs of those on the autistic spectrum vary, he is more advanced than many of his peers there.

"He is considered to have highly functional autism so when he spent a week at a school just for those with autism, he had to be moved to the year above," Sykes explained. "He is too highly functioning for an autistic school but not high functioning enough for mainstream school."

Home schooling had also been considered, but was an option they were not as keen on because they want their son to socialise with others. The couple then appealed for the government to do more to support those with special needs.

Caltagirone, 43, added: "It is not the teachers' or the schools' fault. They are trying hard to integrate but don't have the funding or resources because the government not prioritising it."

The couple were then praised for working together for their son, to which Sykes replied: "We are not together anymore but we have complete solidarity on parenting. We are both fighting for him."

Her former husband added: "Parents should always get rid of their differences for their children."

Sykes and Caltagirone married in January 2001. They had two sons together; Roman and Valentino. In July 2008, the couple were reported to have separated.

(JP/MH)

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"Melanie Sykes has revealed she is now on good terms with her ex-husband Daniel Caltagirone."