Nursery World - Time at nursery cuts teen pregnancies

A project that places 14- to 16-year-olds as mentors in day nurseries to discourage them from getting pregnant is expanding rapidly and may go nationwide. Teens and Toddlers pairs teenagers from local schools in areas with high teen pregnancy rates with nursery children for two hours a week for 20 weeks. It began in Greenwich, London, in 2001 and is run by the non-profit foundation, Children: Our Ultimate Investment (COUI).

Teens and Toddlers pairs teenagers from local schools in areas with high teen pregnancy rates with nursery children for two hours a week for 20 weeks. It began in Greenwich, London, in 2001 and is run by the non-profit foundation, Children: Our Ultimate Investment (COUI).

Director Diana Whitmore said, 'If you give teens a live, hands-on experience of the responsibility, work and privilege it is to have a child, they are more inclined to wait before having children. We've delivered in six boroughs and these local authorities want to mainstream the programme.'

COUI is now piloting long-term Teens and Toddlers projects in Southwark, Islington and Brent It is also in discussion with the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit about launching nationally.

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