Nursery World - Separate ways (1)

When parents split up, children suffer emotional turmoil which can be extremely damaging. Annette Rawstrone reports on a project to improve support for such families Between 150,000 and 200,000 sets of parents separate each year, leaving a quarter of British children to cope with the emotional turmoil of a broken home.

Between 150,000 and 200,000 sets of parents separate each year, leaving a quarter of British children to cope with the emotional turmoil of a broken home.

Evidence shows that separation or divorce can have a profoundly damaging effect on children if it is not handled properly:

* The likelihood of adverse outcomes for children from separated families is roughly twice that for other children.

* Children are more likely to do less well at school, play truant or run away from home if they are from a separated family.

* Up to half of young offenders come from separated families.

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