Twins' school start date delayed after charity's intervention

"It’s like having family you can go to for advice." For Michelle, that’s exactly what it felt like when she called Twins Trust for support.

As a twin mum living in London, she’d been doing everything she could to work things out for her boys. But when she found the right guidance at the right time, she said it made a huge difference.

Michelle’s twins, Jay and Rio, were born in May 2017. With twins, decisions can come thick and fast, and sometimes you need to make calls that feel bigger than you expected.

Michelle didn’t find out about Twins Trust until the boys were about three. Before that, she says she tried to manage on her own. When she did connect with the charity, she realised she didn’t have to figure everything out without support.

A big decision about starting school

Michelle first contacted Twins Trust when she wanted to talk through the boys’ school start date. Jay and Rio were due to start school in September 2021. After getting advice and looking at the options, the plan changed. Instead they started school in September 2022 when they were five years old.

It’s the sort of decision that can bring up a lot of questions. You want to do what’s right for your children, but you also want to feel confident when you’re speaking to schools and making a case for what your family needs.

Michelle explained how that first conversation with an expert from the Twins Trust Professional Advice Service helped her move forward.

“The first time I used the service was when I spoke to the expert, Maggie, about flexible school for summer-born children. I got an excellent outcome as a result of speaking to her.

“She was really helpful and all the schools I contacted agreed to delay the boys starting school. We got accepted into our first choice school, which wasn’t in our catchment or borough. I was shocked but very pleased.”

For Michelle, it wasn’t just about the outcome. It was about feeling listened to and backed up with clear information. With the right support, she could approach schools with confidence and take the next steps for Jay and Rio.

Support that keeps going

During that first contact, Maggie also mentioned that Twins Trust has experts who can offer support around speech and language therapy. It was something Michelle stored away for later. Then, a year on, she found herself needing advice in a different area and remembered what had been said.

“A year later I remembered that she had said that so I got in touch with Twins Trust once again.

“The expert, Rachael, was really helpful. I knew she had another job and family at home but she was very kind and able to schedule my appointment, even though her own children were up and running around.”

Michelle said the advice she received was practical and reassuring. It helped her understand what to do next and how to move forward, step by step.

“She told me what to do going forward and as a result of that I organised many appointments at various hospitals for the boys.

“All in all it’s been a really fantastic service, I can’t believe it. I just feel so lucky. I tried to do everything on my own. Once I found out about Twins Trust, I felt like my problems were halved.”

If you’re facing something similar, whether it’s school choices, development worries, or you just need someone who gets it, Twins Trust is here to help you feel less alone.