It is important for teachers to keep in touch with the parents of children born with clefts who may be unwilling to speak up for fear of being labelled "over anxious".
If teachers can be informed about medical appointments, they can be aware of changes that are likely to occur which may affect the child at school. Children may be especially vulnerable at the beginning of a new school year, when the school, teachers and classmates are unknown quantities, and before and after operations. If a child can be helped to catch up on missed work he will be less anxious about falling behind.