Pat Preedy

Are Multiple Birth Children Different from Singletons?: Meeting the Educational Needs of Multiple Birth Children on School Entry Pat Preedy

The number of multiple birth children has dramatically increased, so that in the UK, one child in 35 is now a multiple. This research is from an educational perspective, with the primary purpose of supporting the parents of multiples and the children themselves, particularly when they start school. The research methods include the first national survey of schools in England, interviews with parents and identification of the multiple birth sample in the Performance Indicators In Pripary Schools (PIPS) value added tests devised by Professor Peter Tymms and the CEM team (Unniversity of Durham). The research led to the development of a theoretical model based upon the personal, social and emotional development of multiple birth families. The model and the research findngs have been used by Tamba to produce literature for parents of multiple birth children. The education website www.twinsandmultiples.org also provides information for parents and professionals.