Generally there is a lack of awareness and of adequate information

Pat Preedy

Schools which separated twins said they did so because of requests from parents, to develop the children's independence or to tackle dominance or restriction of one twin by the other.

Those which kept children together said this was to allow them to support each other, because of the wishes of parents, or simply because there were no apparent problems or reasons for separation.

Schools with classes grouped alphabetically or by birth date often automatically placed twins together without considering the effects.

No discussion

Mrs Preedy said that more than three quarters of schools questioned did not discuss this issue with parents.

"The steady increase in multiple births heightens the need for increased awareness of the special consideration required in managing the children's progress," she said.

One child in 35 is now a twin, triplet or quad, according to the survey.

Some twins had seldom been apart

The national increase is partly a result of fertility treatments - particularly the incidence of triplets.

Better neo-natal care has led to a higher survival rate for small or premature babies.

There has also been a trend towards older motherhood when twins are more likely.

Mrs Preedy, who is educational research consultant for the Twins and Multiple Births Association (Tamba), said that there are no clear-cut answers.

Flexibility advised

She recommends schools take a flexible approach in each case and conduct regular reviews.

"We are not saying there are huge problems but you need to watch for extremes and see if children need help to behave, and be treated, both as individuals and as twins or triplets," said Mrs Preedy.

Her study concluded that some children need to be together at the start of their schooling to support each other, particularly as 84% of those surveyed had previously spent very little time apart.

"Others wanted to be separated or they started off together and then separated later."

Types of twin

Mrs Preedy places twins in three categories:

• Closely coupled: almost like one child
• Extreme individuals: hate being twins
• Mature dependents: happy twin/single

"The main issue is not so much whether to separate children but how to help them develop as 'mature dependents'," she said.

"These children enjoy their multiple-birth relationship but are able to choose some things the same as their twin and some things that are different.

"They are able to develop as individuals, making their own friends and accepting that they cannot always be the same as their twin."

Framework policy

The results of the study are included on a website in a joint initiative with Professor David Hay of the University of Curtin in Australia.

He leads specialist research into the educational and social needs of multiple-birth children.

Mrs Preedy, whose study has been conducted through the University of Birmingham, has drawn up a framework school policy and parent/teacher questionnaire.

She has also devised a theoretical model to assist professionals in the personal, social and emotional assessment of the children.