Britain has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Western Europe and although only a small proportion of those are under the age of 16, those parents are most risk at of missing out on education and subsequent social exclusion.

In 1998, there were nearly 90,000 conceptions a year to teenagers: around 7,855   conceptions to girls under 16 i.e. 8.9 per 1,000 13-15 year old females. The 1999 Social Exclusion Report set out the Government’s objectives relating to teenage pregnancy and their children.

The latest quarterly teenage conception figures continue to show a downward trend, which has now been sustained for 12 successive quarters.  Between 1998 and 2000, the under 18 and under 16 conception rates have fallen by over 6%.  We are continuing to drive forward implementation of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy which aims to reduce teenage pregnancies by 15% by 2004 and by 50% by 2010.

The Department provide funding to a third and subsequently two third of LEAs with high levels of teenage pregnancy to reintegrate school age parents. As a result the majority of LEAs used the funding to employ Teenage Pregnancy Reintegration Officers. Over 2,000 teenage mothers received support between 2000 and 2002.

Reintegration officers support school age parents and research findings from the University of Newcastle about their role are available on the Teenage Pregnancy Unity website at www.teenagepregnancyunit.gov.uk.

Connexions Personal Advisers (PAs) and Sure Start Plus Advisers also work with Reintegration Officers to provide the support the individual young person needs:

• The Reintegration Officers have specialist knowledge about alternative education available for young parents in the area but they can also advise mainstream schools on the best way to accommodate a pregnant pupil or a young mother.
• Connexions PAs are best placed to provide continuing 1:1 support for young parents who are at risk of disengaging from learning. Support includes advice on further education and careers.

Although school is the best place for school age parents to access a full curriculum, other routes may be offered to accommodate the needs of these parents. These include education in a specialist pupil referral unit, home tuition, further education, e-learning or voluntary sector provision.

The Ofsted Report on Sex and Relationships (HMI 433 – published in May 2002) drew out some of the successful features in specialist Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) that help young mothers continue or re-engage in learning. For example provision of:

• a “broad and balanced curriculum together with opportunities both to prepare for the birth of the baby and post-natal care”;
• a crèche onsite.

Guidance

In October 2001, the Department published guidance on the education of school-age parents (Ref DfES/0629/2001), to help schools and LEAs with the practicalities of supporting parents, or pregnant girls of school age. The guidance is available on our website at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/schoolageparents and has been distributed to all Reintegration Officers and concerned LEAs.