0:00:14 > 0:00:16Oh, there's going to be a crash!
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Hello, my name is Jonathan.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36And I am ten years old.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39I have cerebral palsy which means I can't speak.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42These are my words but not my voice.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46I have written these words for my friends to read out.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50And I have decided that one of them will be the voice of my life.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Let me introduce them to you.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Mawgan who has been my dependable friend.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Cole who is the best at sport.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Lewis K who talks to me about anything and everything.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Lewis S is really funny and has my sense of humour.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08And I like him a lot.
0:01:08 > 0:01:14I am not sure at all what my voice would sound like so who will it be?
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Who would it be, Jonathan?
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Lewis S.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31I have asked Lewis to be my voice.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35We have been friends since I was four and he will be awesome at it.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59Now I have a voice, let me tell you about my life.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04For over eight years I was locked in my body, unable to communicate.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08But two years ago, that all changed.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12This year I have got big plans. I want to change the way
0:02:12 > 0:02:14children like me are taught.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Meet one of the biggest authors on the planet, Michael Morpurgo.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21- Hello, Jonathan. - And show him one of my own stories.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26- Can I read it out loud?- Can Michael read your story out loud? Yes.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31But first let me introduce you to my family.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36I am the big brother to two sisters.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38- This is Susannah.- Hello!
0:02:38 > 0:02:42My earliest memory is holding her in my arms the day after she was born.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45It was love at first sight.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48And Jemima is my youngest sister.
0:02:48 > 0:02:49This is a mince pie for Santa.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53She is joyful and gives the best cuddles.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56I have lots of brilliant people who help me every day.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59- Including my lovely teacher, Sarah.- Perfect.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04My father is a vicar and I love listening to his stories.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08That is your first birthday, isn't it? So much has changed.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12And my mother is my greatest supporter.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15She has always believed in me, she was the one who unlocked me,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18helping me find my voice.
0:03:18 > 0:03:19Well done.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26When Jonathan was seven, I decided to start teaching him at home.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30I devised a really complicated way for Jonathan to write.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35It involved him choosing a category of words like saying he wanted a noun.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37I would give him a whole variety of nouns
0:03:37 > 0:03:41and he would choose which noun he wanted of the one I had given him.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43We also had a little square that said ABC, I want to use
0:03:43 > 0:03:47a spelling board. Every time he went back to the other board with a noun,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49a verb and everything on it he always went to the spelling board
0:03:49 > 0:03:54and I realised he wants to use the spelling board all the time.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58This board which has changed my life is actually really simple.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01If I want to say hi, I look at the grid the H is in
0:04:01 > 0:04:07because the H is highlighted in green I then look at the green square above.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11My mother would then sound out "huh". Next, I would look at the box
0:04:11 > 0:04:15the I is in and as that letter is highlighted in red
0:04:15 > 0:04:19I then look at the red square and my mum would say hi.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24To confirm that my mum has got it right, I look at the tick box.
0:04:24 > 0:04:30He spelt out I-L-0-V-E space Y-O-U.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33He's chosen to write that and that makes so much difference
0:04:33 > 0:04:36because you know that is exactly what he wants to say.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41- Finally my voice can be heard. - That is a great smile.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47As adept fingers point, my silent soul emerges.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51Soaring eagle spread wings, I fly to my destiny.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Very good, Jonathan.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59Since being unlocked I read as many books as I can
0:04:59 > 0:05:02but my favourite author is Michael Morpurgo.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04And dreams, as we all know, don't make sense.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06He's written over 100 books,
0:05:06 > 0:05:09and sold millions of copies around the world,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12and he's inspired me to use my new voice
0:05:12 > 0:05:15to write my own book of stories and poems.
0:05:15 > 0:05:21..L-O-O-K-I-N-G.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Listening, looking.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26I'll be meeting Mr Morpurgo soon
0:05:26 > 0:05:29so, today, I'm beginning a new story for him.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31And wanting to be heard...
0:05:40 > 0:05:42Using the board takes for ever.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Writing every single letter with my eyes,
0:05:45 > 0:05:47it will take me over 30 hours to finish this.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Full stop.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Listening, looking and wanting to be heard,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08I spend my time unable to tell my story.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14You've hooked me.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16You're supposed to say that, Mum.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18It'll be much tougher to impress a world-famous author.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Do you think Michael Morpurgo's going to like it when he reads it?
0:06:23 > 0:06:28I H-O-P-E...
0:06:28 > 0:06:31I hope...so.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Yeah, I hope so too.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35- I'm sure he will.- I'm sure he will.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Good boy.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43When my mum was pregnant with me,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45we had a car crash which made me disabled.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47When Jonathan was born,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50the doctors didn't really know how things were going to work out,
0:06:50 > 0:06:54so he spent quite a lot of time in a little baby incubator,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57almost like a glass greenhouse with lots of wires and things in there.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59The accident caused a serious brain injury,
0:06:59 > 0:07:03resulting in me being diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07The doctors said I might not ever be able to recognise my parents,
0:07:07 > 0:07:09but my mum believed in me.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Hello, Jonathan.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14- VOICEOVER:- I always knew that Jonathan was in there.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18He just looked at us and he knew us. Yeah, he was always there.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21The cerebral palsy means I can't control my arms or legs,
0:07:21 > 0:07:25and it even affects the muscle co-ordination in my mouth,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28so I can't speak. I also have trouble breathing on my own,
0:07:28 > 0:07:32so I'm always connected to an oxygen tank,
0:07:32 > 0:07:36but even with all this, I've never let it hold me back.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Every afternoon, I go to my local primary school.
0:07:41 > 0:07:42Hi, Jonathan!
0:07:42 > 0:07:45As you can see, my friends are always happy to see me,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48and they always include me in everything.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51Yay!
0:07:51 > 0:07:53148.
0:07:56 > 0:08:02121 centimetres. You're definitely beating us.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06Jonathan and I have been friends since we were four.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10There was no real way for Jonathan to join in,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13but somehow we found a way.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16I knew Jonathan about the time he started using his board.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20I spent the entire first couple of months
0:08:20 > 0:08:23studying Jonathan's every movement.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27When you first see it happening, it's quite hard to understand,
0:08:27 > 0:08:31but after a while, you soon get the hang of it.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Now it's totally different,
0:08:33 > 0:08:37because we can just chat to each other.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40- Yes or no?- No.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42- OK.- Jonathan's cheeky,
0:08:42 > 0:08:46and sometimes he'll make a joke about his carers,
0:08:46 > 0:08:51which then turns round into a horrid one,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54like one of his carers is over 200!
0:08:54 > 0:08:56THEY GIGGLE
0:08:56 > 0:09:00Even when he's smiling, it makes me start laughing.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04What do you call a hedgehog which crosses the road,
0:09:04 > 0:09:06jumps in a muddy puddle and crosses the road again?
0:09:06 > 0:09:09A dirty double-crosser!
0:09:09 > 0:09:12As you can hear, some of their jokes are terrible.
0:09:12 > 0:09:13- Knock-knock.- What's there?
0:09:13 > 0:09:15I'm up.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17I'm up who?
0:09:17 > 0:09:20But in the end, Rochelle always has me laughing.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Jonathan, where do fish keep their money?
0:09:23 > 0:09:25In the riverbanks!
0:09:25 > 0:09:27THEY GIGGLE
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- I'm only laughing cos you're laughing.- Am I laughing?
0:09:31 > 0:09:34- ALL:- It's Jonathan!
0:09:34 > 0:09:37LIVELY MUSIC PLAYS
0:09:39 > 0:09:41# Under the white noise
0:09:41 > 0:09:44# I hear a clear voice calling me
0:09:44 > 0:09:50# You've got a way of spelling it out so perfectly... #
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Home time always comes around so quickly.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57- Have fun.- OK.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Before I went to primary school,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02I went to a special education school.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06At first it was great. I met lots of new friends.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08But we were never taught to read and write.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Inside, I am just an ordinary boy
0:10:11 > 0:10:14but for years, I couldn't speak to anybody.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Can you imagine being silent for so long?
0:10:17 > 0:10:19My sisters can't even do it for five minutes.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22THEY CHAT AND LAUGH
0:10:24 > 0:10:27I don't know how long I'll live,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30but I'm determined to make the most of my life,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33so I've started a campaign to help children like me.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38Over 180,000 people have signed my petition
0:10:38 > 0:10:41asking for all children, no matter what their disability,
0:10:41 > 0:10:43to have the opportunity
0:10:43 > 0:10:45to be taught to read and write.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Petition comments - other people with disabled children.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50- Petition comment... Oh, well done.- OK, yeah.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Tomorrow, I have the most important meeting of my life.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56I've been given the chance to meet
0:10:56 > 0:10:58the Minister for Vulnerable Children.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00I didn't even know there was one.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Tell him everything you want to say.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05But if anyone can change the way things are,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07he should be able to.
0:11:10 > 0:11:15I never had profound and multiple learning difficulties...
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Because his communication is good and he's so extraordinary,
0:11:20 > 0:11:23he makes for an amazing front man for that campaign.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26I'm so exhausted.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28I can't keep my eyes open.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Luckily I've got my trusty ventilator handy
0:11:31 > 0:11:33to give me a boost of oxygen.
0:11:33 > 0:11:34Hmm.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Today is one of those days when we're not going to wake up.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41This is so important. I HAVE to power on.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Hello? Hi!
0:11:43 > 0:11:45Are you coming to join us?
0:11:45 > 0:11:47Yay!
0:11:47 > 0:11:50He has a great sense of humour, he's very witty. Cheeky.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Don't close your eyes at this point.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57You monkey.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04- Yes.- Thank you.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06THEY LAUGH
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Well, my seat IS comfortable.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Let's just hope I can stay awake tomorrow.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14What have you got your eyes shut for?
0:12:14 > 0:12:19There's always one part of the day that wakes me up - lunchtime!
0:12:19 > 0:12:21You like lunchtime, don't you, Jonathan?
0:12:21 > 0:12:24My food goes directly into my stomach through a tube
0:12:24 > 0:12:27because I can't control the muscles in my mouth.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30But even though I can't eat normal food,
0:12:30 > 0:12:32I still love to bake as it puts a smile
0:12:32 > 0:12:35on the faces of the people who do so much for me.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Let's make some brownies.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Chocolate brownies seem to make them particularly happy.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Oh, that was beautifully done, Jonathan.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Raw-egg hands!
0:12:45 > 0:12:47"I waved them into your mouth, Mummy!"
0:12:47 > 0:12:52And with a special button, I even get to do the mixing.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54PROCESSOR WHIRS
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Well done.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59I've even written a poem about baking.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02You've got helpers, Jonathan.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Dripping, goodness, loving, sharing
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Aromatic, health repairing
0:13:13 > 0:13:15Pleasant parcels held with pleasure...
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Should they be in our brownies?
0:13:21 > 0:13:23I think that's a yes, look.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25I'm going to put them in the oven.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35And here we are, loading up Jonathan's van.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Here's Katie, who will be our driver for the day.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- Hello, Katie.- Hello!
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Loading up Jonathan's oxygen.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46- BOTH:- Goodbye, Jon-Jon!
0:13:46 > 0:13:47Jon...
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Bye, Jon-Jon.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52You're supposed to look at Jon-Jon!
0:13:53 > 0:13:56This is Jonathan being loaded into the car.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59It's rather like getting on board an aircraft.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02There's music in the background, there's everything being loaded on,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05people being squeezed into every corner.
0:14:05 > 0:14:06Haven't yet had a safety briefing
0:14:06 > 0:14:09but the oxygen masks are already down.
0:14:09 > 0:14:10Hello, Jonathan.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13Have we got sick bags?
0:14:14 > 0:14:15Ready to go.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20We're on our way to London to present my petition
0:14:20 > 0:14:24to the Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26At the moment, he's having his medicine.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Jonathan has about 20 medicines a day.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31They help his kidneys and his bones
0:14:31 > 0:14:33and help him sleep.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36We're definitely in London now, Jonathan.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39There's a big red bus in front of us. Buckingham Palace.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41It's London! Whoo!
0:14:41 > 0:14:46We're just about to present this to the Minster for Vulnerable Children
0:14:46 > 0:14:50and Families in the Department of Education. Thank you.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Jonathan only slept for three hours. He's smiling about it now.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56- Which isn't funny, Jonathan. - A good sleep in the car, though.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00This is what six months of planning has led to.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03I'm making my way through the Ministry for Education,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07thinking of a way to start the conversation with the Minister.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11I'm nervous but determined to help other children like me
0:15:11 > 0:15:14who have never been taught to read and write.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16Here we go!
0:15:16 > 0:15:17Hello.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Hello. Hello, Jonathan.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21Nice to see you.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25Thank you so much for coming in to see me. Hope your journey was OK.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28I'll look forward to having a chat with you.
0:15:28 > 0:15:34- SARAH:- T-H-A-N... Thank... Thank you...
0:15:37 > 0:15:39..for...
0:15:40 > 0:15:43..meeting...
0:15:46 > 0:15:48..us.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51Thank you for meeting us.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Well, it's a pleasure to meet you as well,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57and I know we've been sending letters to each other
0:15:57 > 0:16:00and talking about this really, really important topic,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03so today's a chance for us
0:16:03 > 0:16:09to learn more about what we can do to make the experience
0:16:09 > 0:16:13of many children and young people who want to learn...
0:16:13 > 0:16:16the opportunity to do so, whatever their needs happen to be,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19so I hope it will be a productive meeting.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Yes.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23THEY LAUGH
0:16:23 > 0:16:28When Jonathan sits down and talks to anyone who has authority,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32people listen to him. I think people are fairly blown away
0:16:32 > 0:16:34by what he has to say,
0:16:34 > 0:16:38and he was a little disarmed by this ten-year-old boy
0:16:38 > 0:16:42who doesn't make a sound but has such a lot to say.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Well, I think it's really important
0:17:05 > 0:17:08that no-one has barriers put in their way,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10which we can break down,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13because if they stay there,
0:17:13 > 0:17:17then it means there's opportunities that you miss out on,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20and what you've shown me through coming here today
0:17:20 > 0:17:24is that you have some very, very strong and passionate views
0:17:24 > 0:17:26that you want to share,
0:17:26 > 0:17:31and the more that we can educate teachers as well as everybody else,
0:17:31 > 0:17:35the advantages is not just for them but for all their pupils
0:17:35 > 0:17:38if they do that, then we will have
0:17:38 > 0:17:41done a good thing, and you will have made something important happen.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Thank you very much.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Cheerio. Bye-bye.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Thank you very much.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Meeting such an important person is a big step in the right direction.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55That gives me hope that real change will happen.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58I'm so proud of what we achieved today.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00I just hope I've done enough,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and that one day, all schools will be able to...
0:18:03 > 0:18:06..teach children...
0:18:06 > 0:18:11..like me.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Full stop. Yeah.
0:18:15 > 0:18:16Hope so.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25- It's Christmas!- It's Christmas!
0:18:25 > 0:18:27THEY ALL CHEER
0:18:27 > 0:18:31As a Christian, Christmas is my favourite time of year.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35My faith is the most important part of my life.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40This year, it was extra special as I was confirmed by the bishop.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44With Jesus as my saviour, companion and friend,
0:18:44 > 0:18:48I have lived my hours here with happiness in my spirit
0:18:48 > 0:18:51and content calm in my soul.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54I look forward with excited anticipation
0:18:54 > 0:18:56to the day I will see Jesus
0:18:56 > 0:19:00and live together with him in his garden for ever.
0:19:00 > 0:19:01Happy boy!
0:19:01 > 0:19:04When we get home, there is Christmas dinner.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Puddings are on the table, Jonathan!
0:19:07 > 0:19:10And of course presents.
0:19:10 > 0:19:11Woo-hoo!
0:19:11 > 0:19:15But this Christmas, the best present of all is yet to come.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18This is Jonathan on the morning of going to meet Michael Morpurgo.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Hello, love. You're excited, aren't you?
0:19:21 > 0:19:25This is such a magical day. I can't believe it's here already.
0:19:25 > 0:19:26Jemima in the front seat.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Are you going to be telling Claire how to get there?
0:19:29 > 0:19:32- I don't know how to get there. - Don't worry, darling.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34I can tell Claire how to get there.
0:19:34 > 0:19:35MUM LAUGHS
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Mr Morpurgo is doing a Christmas performance
0:19:38 > 0:19:40at Exeter Cathedral,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44and he said he'd meet me backstage before the show.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47You watched him all morning,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50and then I read a Michael Morpurgo book to him in the car.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Read him all afternoon.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Didn't you?
0:19:54 > 0:19:56Now you're about to meet the man himself.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00It's nerve-racking waiting for such a brilliant author.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- How are you feeling? - He's listening to the door.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Aren't you? You can hear someone.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Hello!
0:20:10 > 0:20:12- Mr Morpurgo!- How are you?
0:20:12 > 0:20:14Hello, Jonathan.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Nice to see you.
0:20:16 > 0:20:17You came all this way?
0:20:17 > 0:20:20You silly boy, to come all this way
0:20:20 > 0:20:22to just shake an old man's hand!
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Can I sit here, Jonathan?
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Do you know how lucky you are to be ten?
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Ten's younger!
0:20:30 > 0:20:3373 is older!
0:20:33 > 0:20:35I...
0:20:35 > 0:20:36W...
0:20:36 > 0:20:38I wrote...
0:20:41 > 0:20:43..a...
0:20:43 > 0:20:46..story.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49- Have you got it?- Yeah. - Can I read it out loud?
0:20:49 > 0:20:53- Jonathan, can Mr Morpurgo read your story out loud?- Yes.
0:20:53 > 0:20:58So, this is Curtains To Freedom.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03"Listening, looking, and wanting to be heard,
0:21:03 > 0:21:08"I spend my time unable to tell my story, in silence.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11"I live behind the curtains."
0:21:11 > 0:21:13There was that moment where it was just the two of them,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16and there were two writers, and they were lost together.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18And it was beautiful.
0:21:18 > 0:21:24"Preventing my freedom and trapping me and my friend Edward
0:21:24 > 0:21:29"in our magical worlds of colourful pictures and steady drumbeats.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32"We retreat to the glorious hidden haven.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36"When will we be flying free, beyond the curtain?
0:21:36 > 0:21:39"Higher towards the sky we ascend
0:21:39 > 0:21:43"so that the undulating ground beneath us is spread
0:21:43 > 0:21:47"like a laden picnic blanket, up and on.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51"Looking at the squares of letters and colours held in front of me,
0:21:51 > 0:21:53"I spell out..."
0:21:57 > 0:21:58Good work.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:22:01 > 0:22:02It's remarkable writing.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06You use words like a paintbrush. And also like a composer.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08This is extraordinary.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11I think this needs to be sent to the Ministry of Education.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13People should see this.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16My goodness me, what thoughts go on in that head.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18SARAH READS HIS WORDS
0:22:20 > 0:22:21"I am your student."
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Oh, that's lovely.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26I've always wanted a student.
0:22:26 > 0:22:27THEY LAUGH
0:22:27 > 0:22:29I-I think it's a lovely thing to say,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32because that means I am a sort of teacher,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and that's a wonderful thing to be. Thank you for saying that.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39This is very strong in emotion. This is deeply felt.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43And I think maybe that's what links your writing to mine,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46because I try to make my stories
0:22:46 > 0:22:48full of the feeling that I have inside me.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Sometimes, it's anger,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53sometimes, it's love -
0:22:53 > 0:22:55could be all sorts of things.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59But, certainly, that's what I hope people find in the stories.
0:22:59 > 0:23:00So we are linked that way, I think -
0:23:00 > 0:23:02you, me,
0:23:02 > 0:23:04and Shakespeare.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09I can't quite believe my hero read my story.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14We travelled the landscape of my emotion together.
0:23:14 > 0:23:15THEY LAUGH
0:23:15 > 0:23:18One, two, three, four, five, six,
0:23:18 > 0:23:20seven, eight, nine, ten.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Hello, how are you? What's your name?
0:23:24 > 0:23:26- Susannah. - Let me shake you by your hand.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29And you as well. You're not Susannah, are you?
0:23:29 > 0:23:31- Jemima.- Very nice to meet you.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34Jonathan, are these your sisters? You poor thing.
0:23:34 > 0:23:35THEY LAUGH
0:23:35 > 0:23:39You have a lot to put up with in life, don't you?
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Yes.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45I don't really like meeting writers who are every bit as good as me,
0:23:45 > 0:23:46but there you go.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48THEY LAUGH
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Particularly when they're younger than me.
0:24:24 > 0:24:25THEY LAUGH
0:24:32 > 0:24:36I'm not often speechless, Jonathan, but I sort of am.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Listen, it's been lovely meeting you,
0:24:38 > 0:24:39and I'll see you after the thing,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42and I hope you like the singing, and I hope you like the story.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44You tell me afterwards, OK?
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Thank you very much.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50I began work on it on Christmas Eve,
0:24:50 > 0:24:54and everyone was singing along to Good King Wenceslas.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56CHOIR SINGS GOOD KING WENCESLAS
0:24:56 > 0:25:00Listening to Michael Morpurgo's Christmas story was beautiful.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Happy Christmas!
0:25:08 > 0:25:10I loved it.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13- I did, too.- We all did.
0:25:13 > 0:25:14Did you enjoy that?
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Did you like it?
0:25:24 > 0:25:27You always come out with surprising words.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29- THEY LAUGH - Lovely, Jonathan.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31I've so loved meeting you. It's made my evening.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34But there's one more question I still need to ask him.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Yes, I'd be honoured to.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Thank you so much. Thank you.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50You've absolutely made his year.
0:25:50 > 0:25:51Have a blessed Christmas.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54- Thank you very much.- SARAH: - You, too.- SUSANNAH:- Thank you.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56I'm so happy he said yes.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59What a night.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00It really was the best present.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02COMPUTER ALERT CHIMES
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Oh, Jonathan, look - there's an e-mail here.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07And on the back of the meeting you had with the minister,
0:26:07 > 0:26:11there's some research which has come out from the Government,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14and it says, "Provide research and case studies into the
0:26:14 > 0:26:15"effective teaching of literacy
0:26:15 > 0:26:18"for non-verbal pupils with complex disabilities."
0:26:18 > 0:26:20What do you think about that?
0:26:20 > 0:26:21This is great news.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23But I won't be happy until
0:26:23 > 0:26:26every child is given the opportunity to read and write.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29And my campaign won't be over until that day.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31"It's a step in the right direction."
0:26:31 > 0:26:34It certainly is a step in the right direction, Jonathan.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37There's not many ten-year-olds who can campaign for Government
0:26:37 > 0:26:41and end up getting some research commissioned on the back of
0:26:41 > 0:26:42their campaign.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43HE EXHALES
0:26:43 > 0:26:45SHE LAUGHS
0:26:46 > 0:26:48What a year it's been.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Today, I turn 11.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54# Happy birthday to you. #
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Mr Morpurgo has sent me the foreword for my book.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Hi, Jonathan.
0:27:00 > 0:27:01It's Michael here.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06Jonathan, meeting you that day has left its mark on me.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10It's a memory I shall hold dear for the rest of my life.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14So I thought I would write you this foreword.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18"Jonathan has opened the door for us into his world,
0:27:18 > 0:27:22"and reached out his hand to us in his writing.
0:27:22 > 0:27:27"When we take his hand, as we read, he is not locked in any more.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29"And neither are we.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34"We join him in his journey, he joins us in ours.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37"Not alone any more, Jonathan."
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Very excited that we're going to go and see this literary agent.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43Who knows what will happen next year?
0:27:44 > 0:27:47But I'm going to make every moment count.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49I have asked Lewis to be my voice.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52We've been friends since I was four,
0:27:52 > 0:27:54and he will be awesome at it.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57There's always one part of the day that wakes me up.
0:27:57 > 0:27:58THEY CHEER
0:28:01 > 0:28:02Yes!
0:28:02 > 0:28:04- MAN:- Great work, guys. - WOMAN:- Brilliant.