Family in the woods: children pass their school exams to move up to the next year group

“The parents have been informed that the three children have successfully passed the entrance exam to move up to the next year group – Year 4 for the eldest daughter and Year 2 for the twins.” The confirmation comes from Simone Pillon, the lawyer representing the Anglo-Australian couple known as the ‘forest family’, who are involved in the case concerning the removal of their three children ordered by the Juvenile Court of L’Aquila; the children have been in a children’s home in Vasto since last November. The children, who are being looked after by a teacher at the care home, sat the exams to qualify for the next year group.

“This news confirms the effectiveness of the home-schooling approach chosen by the parents,” continues Pillon, “which has also been followed during this school year, which the children have spent in a children’s home.”

In the meantime, the Juvenile Court’s decision is awaited on the application for family reunification submitted by Mr Pillon on 25 June. The 99-page document reconstructs the legal and personal history of the family, highlighting the new findings from the preliminary investigations and the subsequent developments that are said to have altered the situation. “The defence’s assessments regarding the weighing up of the new elements have been submitted to the Court, and a review of relevant Italian and European case law on points of law and substance has been provided,” explains the lawyer. Note was taken of the renewed spirit of cooperation that has developed between the parties and of the intention to overcome the remaining difficulties through discussion and dialogue. Finally, it was pointed out to the Court that all those involved – from the court-appointed expert to the parties’ consultants, right through to the child neuropsychiatry team and the national scientific community – are now calling for the children to be returned to their families ‘at an early stage’, ‘immediately’ and ‘urgently’, respectively.”