They have been side-by-side since before birth, and have so far done everything together.
But on their first day at school, Connor and Brad Terry might have to go it alone, after authorities ordered the three-year-old twins to attend different primaries.
Connor was given the last remaining place at their mother Samantha's first choice of school, and his brother has to go to a school one mile away.
Separated at three: Samantha Terry's twins Brad and Connor will start school in September but have been put in different schools
Miss Terry, 40, is battling to overturn the decision she fears will 'devastate' the small boys. Born 24 minutes apart, Connor and Brad are virtually inseparable. Their mother said: 'I was on hot coals waiting to hear where the boys would be placed in their first schools.
'I wouldn't mind not getting my first choice - but to read they would go to completely different schools - I just thought there was some mistake.
"I chose that school because the boys go to a nursery on the same complex.
"For pure continuity reasons I wanted the children to go there, plus it is an excellent school, I just assumed they would notice the boys were twins."I don't think that is too much to ask. Maybe I was naive but I just thought the education authority would realise they had two boys with the same surname, address and date of birth.
"Connor is very dependent on people and routine and set ways, Brad is a little more independent, I don't know how this would affect their emotional growth.
'When I was told it was not a mistake I was horrified. I cannot consider the consequences of separating the twins at such a tender age.'
Single mum Samantha wanted both Connor and Brad to go to Wainscott Primary School in Medway
Miss Terry, of Rochester, Kent, says there was no space on the application form to note a child is one of a twin pair. As a result Connor and Brad - who she wants to go to Wainscott Primary School, in Medway - were processed separately.
Connor claimed the last place while Brad was assigned to Hilltop Primary School, a 15-minute walk away.
Miss Terry, an accountant who also has a son of 20, said: 'I cannot be in two places at the same time.'
She must attend an appeal later this month to contest Medway Council's decision.
Keith Reed, chief executive of the charity, the Twins and Multiple Births Association, warned of the dangers of separating the twins.
He said: 'During the early years, there tends to be a strong bond between twins, triplets or higher multiples and separating them against their will could potentially have a negative impact on their behavioural and emotional development.'
"Other local authorities have introduced simple measures to overcome these difficulties, such as calling multiple birth families to explore their choices prior to formally sending out the results.
"Clearly the council needs to reconsider how its application process impacts on multiple birth families and seek to make improvements.
"If it feels that it is tied by legislation then it should raise the problem with the relevant Government Minister - but doing nothing is inexcusable."
Torn: Connor got the last place at Wainscott Primary, while Brad has been ordered to go to Hilltop Primary School, which is a 15-minute walk from his brother
A Medway council spokesman said the 30 places at Wainscott Primary were filled according to guidelines for over-subscribed schools.
These give priority to children with older siblings already at the school, and to those who live closest.
Brad was 31st on the list, and to give him a place 'would have denied another child with a right to a place', the spokesman said.
'The circumstances are extremely rare, and changing the application form to indicate twins or multiple births would not have prevented the same outcome,' he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment