The mum of a youngster who has battled cancer has spoken of her pride at him starting school.

Oliver Smith, who turned five yesterday (Wednesday), had his first day at Halfway Houses primary on Monday.

He will be doing just mornings for the first few weeks and will then be a full-time pupil.

He has the childhood cancer neuroblastoma and his mum Natalie, of Coral Road, Minster, said the outlook for children with the disease is so bleak she never thought he would make it this far.

But far from being emotional, the 30-year-old says it’s been so nice to have something as positive as the first day of school.

“I have cried so many bad tears over Oliver that him going to school is a good thing,” she said.

“It’s nice for him to be away from me and see other people because he is with me all the time.

“He loved it – he came home and said ‘I loved it all, mummy’.

“He had a book bag and a bottle for his drink and he was so chuffed with them.

“And he told me they did Humpty Dumpty and some painting.”

Meanwhile, the family has had more good news.

They travelled to The Royal Marsden Hospital in London last week for Oliver’s most recent test results, which have shown the remaining tumour in his head has shrunk again.

Although he was due to have teeth removed on Tuesday, as the chemotherapy he had to endure as a toddler had rotted them, he is still taking everything in his stride.

It is hoped his adult teeth will grow back healthily but there are no guarantees of that.

He has had to have bigger hearing aids fitted as his previous ones were not strong enough.

Natalie added: “The school has been so accommodating and I’m so glad I picked that school.

“I’d also like to say thank you to everyone for their support.”

The total of the Oliver Smith Appeal, set up to pay for treatment he could need in the future, is at £97,026.