WORKING mother-of-two Sarah Bowen knew something was wrong with her son when she noticed he was developing at a slower rate than other children his age.

After pushing for medical tests for more than 12 months, the 38-year-old decided to take things into her own hands.

She made an appointment with a doctor who confirmed her suspicions and eventually, William, now six, was diagnosed with autism and severe learning difficulties.

After talking to her husband Gareth, aged 39, Sarah decided to step up her hours working as a teacher at St Peter's Catholic Primary School, in Cobridge, to support her family financially, while Gareth left his teaching job to look after things at their Weston Park home, near Longton.

Together they also took a trip to America in 2009 to learn new methods, used in the Son Rise programme, to help William develop his social skills.

Sarah has now been nominated in The Sentinel's Mum of the Year competition. We have teamed up with the Trentham Estate to find the region's best mum.

The winner will be decided in time for Mother's Day on March 18, and will be awarded a range of prizes worth £250.

Gareth, who nominated Sarah, said: "From a very early age, Sarah spotted the signs and realised that William wasn't developing as he should be. None of us could see it, but she was convinced there was a problem and she kept pushing until people started to listen, including me.

"If she hadn't done that then we couldn't have tackled things as soon as we did."

William's condition left the couple, who also have a four-year-old daughter, Jessica, unable to control his temper tantrums.

However, over the past three years William has progressed and now has a vocabulary of 150 words and spends one afternoon at week at Park Hall Primary School.

Sarah said: "We have good days and bad days. A couple of times we have been out and William hasn't coped with it and people have started staring at him.They don't understand, they just think he's a naughty kid. But our arrangement works and we just do what is best for our children."

To nominate, write to Laura James, The Sentinel, Sentinel House, Forge Lane, Etruria, ST1 5SS, or email laura.james@thesentinel.co.uk, including a contact number.