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| Schools 'force' young mothers out | Schools 'force' young mothers out |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Pregnant teenagers are being forced out of education by a lack of support, a leading children's charity has said. | Pregnant teenagers are being forced out of education by a lack of support, a leading children's charity has said. |
| A report by Barnardo's found 70% of young mothers were not in education, employment or training. | |
| It has called for extra help for teenage mothers who have "given up on career ambitions and resigned themselves to a life of low income". | It has called for extra help for teenage mothers who have "given up on career ambitions and resigned themselves to a life of low income". |
| The government said it was helping to support young parents by paying for childcare costs for those in learning. | The government said it was helping to support young parents by paying for childcare costs for those in learning. |
| Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said: "Barnardo's are right to say that teenage parenthood should not mean the end of education and the abandonment of ambitions." | Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said: "Barnardo's are right to say that teenage parenthood should not mean the end of education and the abandonment of ambitions." |
| 'Knocks and bumps' | 'Knocks and bumps' |
| Many of the young mothers interviewed for the Barnardo's report said while they had not been officially excluded from school, they had had "pressure put on them to leave because of unfounded health and safety fears". | |
| Other teenage mothers interviewed dropped out because of lack of support and flexibility in schools. | Other teenage mothers interviewed dropped out because of lack of support and flexibility in schools. |
| In some cases, education authorities failed to offer home tuition or alternative teaching arrangements. | In some cases, education authorities failed to offer home tuition or alternative teaching arrangements. |
| A spokeswoman for the charity said: "Teachers are encouraging pregnant teenagers to leave school out of fear of knocks and bumps in the corridor and by saying it is just not safe in school. | A spokeswoman for the charity said: "Teachers are encouraging pregnant teenagers to leave school out of fear of knocks and bumps in the corridor and by saying it is just not safe in school. |
| "We had one girl who was seven months pregnant who was encouraged to leave because she was told the stress of her GCSEs could bring on a premature birth. | "We had one girl who was seven months pregnant who was encouraged to leave because she was told the stress of her GCSEs could bring on a premature birth. |
| "These are teachers saying this, not medically trained staff." | "These are teachers saying this, not medically trained staff." |
| Co-author of the report, Dr Jane Evans, said: "We're not denying that being a young mum brings extra challenges, but teenage motherhood shouldn't spell the end of the story. | Co-author of the report, Dr Jane Evans, said: "We're not denying that being a young mum brings extra challenges, but teenage motherhood shouldn't spell the end of the story. |
| "Helping and supporting young mothers back into education will afford them greater independence and secure a better start in life for their children." | "Helping and supporting young mothers back into education will afford them greater independence and secure a better start in life for their children." |
| Dr Evans added that extra support would be required when the law changes in 2015 requiring all teenagers to stay in education or training until they are 18. | Dr Evans added that extra support would be required when the law changes in 2015 requiring all teenagers to stay in education or training until they are 18. |