A mum has described her 10-week-old son as being the "UK's youngest student", given that she takes him along to all her lectures, despite her university trying to "ban" him from campus.
Janine Adamson, 34, first realised she was pregnant while still in the process of applying for university, but didn't want this to affect her studies.
She also wanted to ensure she maintained a strong bond with her baby son, Tommy Adamson, and was keen for him to attend lectures with her at Solent University, Southampton.
The determined mum wanted to return to campus with Tommy just two weeks after giving birth in January. However, she claims senior members of staff sought to stop this from happening, deeming little Tommy's presence in lecture theatres as 'inappropriate'.
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Despite this, Janine, from Bitterne, Southampton, has continued to bring Tommy to lectures in a chest sling, allowing her to continue learning while keeping her newborn close.
Although one tutor did ask her classmates if anyone had any problem with her being there, it turned out that nobody did, and so she has since settled back into her course without staff intervening.
However, Janine claims she felt intimidated by suggestions that she should simply defer her degree and "spend time looking after her baby" instead, and felt that the institution was trying to "kick her out".
Solent University has since stated that they do "permit babies and children on campus".
However, such requests are granted on a '"case-by-case basis" and are said to be subject to a risk assessment.
In Janine's case, a lecturer emailed to inform her that they had "reconsidered" her wish to bring Tommy along to class, and apologised that "they were not able to agree" to her request, which they described as "inappropriate".
Unperturbed, mum-of-three Janine even plans to buy Tommy his own miniature cap and gown so that he can 'graduate' alongside her.
Janine, who also lives with children Bradley, 16, and Maizie, 11, and her partner Owen Roundell-Prince, 25, has explained that being put on furlough during lockdown gave her time to reflect to "'re-evaluate her life".
In 2020, she decided to leave her watch-fixing job, and sign up for a college access course in social science and humanities, with the intention of studying criminal investigation with forensic psychology at university.
She began her course at Solent University back in October 2021, attending classes two days per week while pregnant with Tommy.
A TikTok video showing Janine and Tommy at uni the day after her return on February 10 has since gone viral, with many followers impressed by the hardworking mum's resilience. However, she says "being told I wasn't allowed to return has been more stressful than my studies".
Janine said: "I felt like uni wanted to kick me out and they didn't want me there, but there is no policy in place on it, so I just went anyway because I'm paying for my education.
"I had asked my lecturers if they didn't mind and they said it was fine. One of them wanted to confirm with [other senior staff], but then I got an email telling me I can't return with my baby.
"They palmed me off by saying it wasn't fair on other students. When my lecturer told me I just broke down in tears and thought everything I'd worked hard for has gone to waste.
"I didn't want to ask for uni to support me in any other way apart from me just getting on with it. I didn't want anything from anyone. Just to put my baby in a sling and carry on".
She continued: "They told me that most students defer for a year, but I'm not most students. I've already deferred my whole life and I don't want the fact that I've got a baby to put me back again.
"They kept telling me to focus on my recovery even though I only wanted two weeks off, so I just stopped communicating with them and went.
"I felt really intimidated and worried about getting turned away. One lecturer asked if anyone objected to me being there while I was in the class, but nobody did so I was allowed to stay.
"They're supporting me now but I feel like it's short term and I feel like I'll have to find childcare, but I'm hoping something changes by then. I take each day as it comes".
Going forward, Janine hopes her story will encourage more universities to introduce supportive policies for mothers who would like to bring their children along to class with them.
A spokesperson for Solent University has given the following statement: "The university is committed to supporting all students who are parents and permits babies and children on campus. However, the primary function and design of our campus is to provide teaching, learning and support for students.
"Babies are currently permitted in class if the student has pre-arranged this and has an agreement from the course team. A risk assessment, that includes health and safety considerations and an understanding of any potential disruptions to learning, is part of the process.
"Babies being on campus is currently managed on a case-by-case basis following discussions between the student (with baby) and course team".
The statement continues: "Students are encouraged to consider suspension of studies if they have a baby during the academic year. This is in line with maternity policies within the workplace and recognises the demands on new mothers and academic study.
"Should a student with a new-born not wish to suspend their studies, a discussion between them and the course team is necessary to establish how this will take place. This has always worked well in the past and we are looking to introduce a policy that will formalise our approach".
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