The needs of twins 'frequently ignored' by schools

Bob Russell MP writes for ePolitix.com ahead of tomorrow's Westminster Hall debate on the additional pressures faced on families of twins. Skip related content

Double the joy, double the trouble?

As the father of twin sons I am extremely proud of them.

But it has to be said that two babies does create additional concerns for parents and families.

What families can do without, however, is the uncaring attitude which some of them experience from some schools and local education authorities.

Would you believe that every year, research from the Twins and Multiple Births Association (TAMBA - a registered charity) has discovered, around 200 twins are allocated places at different schools against the wishes of their parents?

And that through their time at school, parental choice is frequently ignored by schools - placing twins in separate classes when the parents wish them to be in the same class; and vice-versa by putting them in the same class when parental choice is for them to be in separate classes.

This, in summary, is what the debate is all about: parental choice for the parents of twins (and triplets and quads).

Hopefully there will be government assurances that in terms of allocating places then twins should not be placed in separate schools (unless that is what parents choose), and that parental choice at school will not be over-ridden.

TAMBA have told me that eight MPs (all fathers) have twin children.

While I know of two MPs who have a twin (but not in Parliament) I suspect that there are other MPs who have a twin - not forgetting, of course, twin sisters Angela and Maria Eagle.

(Edit:Ruby)