Tanya's school said she couldn't stay for health and safety reasons

Becoming a mum at a young age often means education has to take a back seat.

But for Tanya Allen the problems started way before she became pregnant at just 13 years old.

Her attendance at the local secondary school near her home in the Rhondda Valley, Wales, was sporadic to say the least.

"I hated school. I didn't like getting up in the morning, and I didn't like it that you couldn't talk in lessons.

"And I hated the teachers, they talked to you as if you were shit. They only had a couple of people they liked, and that was it.

You get more attention here than at school because there's only a few of us Tanya Me and my education

"I used to bunk off about three times a week. I would come home because my mum and dad were at work."

Tanya's parents were none the wiser, and it was easy to get away with it at school, she said.

"If I missed lunchtime registration, someone else in my class would pick up a late mark for me."

Although she liked art and maths, the teaching methods in general left a lot to be desired, according to Tanya, who is now 15 and "loving" being a mum to 13-month-old Tristan.

"All they did was put stuff on the board."

"I wasn't interested. I just didn't realise then that school was important."

Ironically, Tanya believes that if it hadn't been for her pregnancy, she would probably still be truanting from school and getting nowhere.

Midwives

"I was 13 when it happened. I had been seeing someone for a year - we're still together now.

"I cried when I found out, I just didn't know what to think.

It didn't really get through to me until I had the baby.

"My mum said I shouldn't feel I had to have an abortion if I didn't want to.

"When I told my father I was pregnant he was up a ladder putting Christmas decorations up.

"He nearly knocked the tree over. He went a bit mental."

Tanya's school said she couldn't return after Christmas for "health and safety reasons", so in January last year she took up a place at Books and Babies, a school for pregnant schoolgirls and young mums in Rhondda Valley.

I won't go back to do A-levels, but if it hadn't of been for the baby I wouldn't have been there at all Tanya

"It's better than school, it's more comfy. You get more attention there than at school because there's only a few of us."

The girls are provided with transport and those who have already given birth take their children to the school cr�che.

"Some of the other girls get maternity tokens for milk, and grants, but I don't because my parents are working and I live with them."

The day begins at 10am, and finishes at 2.30pm, giving Tanya time to get Tristan home and settle him in for the evening.

"I'm doing GSCE maths and English, and we also have lessons in computers.

"Midwives come in and do stuff with us, and we have hair and beauty on Thursdays. I want to finish the education I am getting there and be a stylist."

"I won't go back to school to do A-levels, but if it hadn't of been for the baby I wouldn't have been there at all."