Guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence around pregnancy and complex social factors, suggests that midwives could enter schools to give pupils antenatal support.
Russell Hobby, General Secretary of NAHT said, "We certainly do not want to encourage or normalise teen pregnancy, but ante-natal clinics in schools would not do so. Whatever else goes through a teenager's mind before deciding to have sex, the proximity of ante-natal care is not one of them.
"On the other hand, the evidence is overwhelming that the quality of early care and support - even before birth - has a profound impact on opportunities and even educational standards later in life. Schools have a legitimate interest here.
"Schools are at the heart of their communities; trusted and integrated. If we can use that position to encourage young mothers to maintain their education and make good choices in caring for their children, that can only be good. It is a natural extension of the extended schools project.
"However, this needs to be something that schools choose, not forced upon them. It needs to fit their own ethos, beliefs and strategy. Nor can we use this as an excuse to hold schools accountable for rates of teenage pregnancy."
Page Published: 23/09/2010
