A mum who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer has called for better support for people with long-term illnesses.

Anita Lawrence was told last summer that her breast cancer had spread to her liver, lungs and bones and doctors would not be able to save her.

Since then, the 44-year-old has struggled with constant exhaustion and nausea while raising her young sons, Curtis, 13, and eight-year-old Harley as a single parent.

The resident, of Glebe Lane, Sittingbourne, spoke out to highlight what she sees as insufficient help for those battling serious conditions.

She said: “The support is not there – people think it is, but it isn’t. I’ve got good days and bad days. If I’m ill, I’ve got no help to get the kids to school.

“The school is useless, they ring up when the kids are not there but don’t offer to help. I try to cope as best as I can for the boys.”

She said her sons, who attend Westlands Primary and Westlands Secondary schools, have struggled since she received her heartbreaking prognosis and claims to have not been offered help from teachers catching up on work they have missed.

Ms Lawrence also thinks support from dedicated hospices should be available for people in the earlier stages of their illness, rather than just in the final stages.

"The support isn't there – people think it is, but it isn’t" - mum Anita Lawrence

Without commenting on any specific case, head teacher at Westlands Secondary, Simon Cox, said the school strived to be understanding and lenient on pupil absences where appropriate.

He said: “We believe we do provide a significant amount of support to children in this situation, mostly by liaising with parents on a regular basis.

“We have dedicated people in school who check up on children who are in more vulnerable positions, so, for example, we have a pastoral support manager who’s not a teacher and whose job it is to follow up on children.”

He added teachers were often cautious about giving pupils extra work to make up for things they had missed because of the extra strain it places on them, especially in the case of children who are absent frequently.

Westlands Primary interim head teacher Louise Hopkins said: “We do liaise with parents of vulnerable children. I have a pastoral team in school with four dedicated people.

“They are able to offer bespoke and tailored support. They can also sign-post families to agencies that can offer support at home.

“I would advise [anyone needing help] to contact my pastoral support manager who could meet with that parent.”