A five-year-old schoolboy has returned to the classroom as a girl in one of Britain's youngest-ever cases of gender dysphoria .
Letters were sent to classmates and parents after the festive break telling them of the boy's wishes to be treated as a little girl.
The youngster, who has not been identified, now turns up for classes at his Nottinghamshire primary school as a girl.
His family have told teachers they are supporting their son through the early stages of gender transitioning.
They are also receiving help from the local authority - which has seen a surge in gender dysphoria cases.
Children can take drugs to postpone puberty as well as hormone treatment, beforeNHS gender realignment surgery at 18.
The Gender Identity Research and Education Society says referrals for treatment of young people are growing by 50%.
Colin Pettigrew, from Nottingham County Council, said it was determined to support the youngster's wishes.
He said: "Transgender is a new area for many school and is a characteristic protected by law.
"Therefore headteachers across England continue to and are required to agree a clear plan to support the needs of transgender children and young people."
Maria Kontogianni, senior lecturer in psychology with sociology at Nottingham Trent University , said the child and parents will need counselling.
She added: "Children could start feeling gender dysphoria from the age of three-years-old.
"They will say that they don't feel like a boy or a girl or they may decide they are not.
"If the school or parents do not respond correctly it can become a real problem for the child.
"If a child does start saying these things it is completely fine as long as they get the help they need as soon as possible.
"If it is done correctly you could have a very happy child.
"The key is to engage the family and teachers in the process because many will try to tip-toe around the subject.
"A young child at primary school will be going through the first stage which includes continuous counselling for both child and parents."
There is currently only one specialist clinic for young people with gender identity issues in the UK.
But Julie Smith, whose son Richard transitioned to Sarah in her late teens, said support for families has improved.
The 52-year-old, from Mansfield, Notts, said: "My daughter told me six years ago and I did not have the slightest idea.
"I was shocked and just wasn't prepared for it because emotionally it was traumatic and I had to educate myself on it.
"She told us that she had felt different from the age of seven and I did not know, which made me feel incredibly guilty.
"All we wanted is for her to be happy, which makes us happy.
"I think it is fantastic that young children can start the process earlier than when my daughter did."
Sarah, now aged 26, completed the transitioning process and gender reassignment in November 2014.
Britain's youngest-ever gender dysphoria child was Danni McFadyen, who was three when he revealed he wanted to be a girl.
His mother Kerry and father Craig, from Strathspey, Scotland, agreed to allow Daniel to live as Danni.
Danni is now six, has long hair, wears girls' clothes and claims to have a girl's head and a boy's body.
Source- Mirror Uk
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