DS having toilet accidents in Yr4

[NS2k15]

My DS just moved into year 4 in September and between then and the beginning of Xmas holidays has already had 4 accidents (3 wet and 1 poo). I have taken him to the doctors and this has ruled out any medical problem. Has anyone else had a similar problem with their children of a similar age? I have had discussions with DS's teacher after each of the accidents and in all of the cases DS has not asked out to the toilet before the accident. Also from discussions with the teacher it is only him and one other child who have had accidents and the other child has only done it once. I am also concerned that DS will be feeling different as he has been changed in the schools infant end for yrs 1 to 3 although they do have an area set aside for changing kids and clothes in most sizes is this right for a child of this age?

[DullUserName]

I teach year 4. I've had roughly one per class who needed extra reminders or support with toileting. I often suggest a simple sign they can make (T with fingers or hands) so they don't have to ask me aloud. Or an agreed reminder signal from me as I dismiss the class for break/lunch.

[sneepy]

at my DCs school, there were a few children stopping others from going into the loos at break times. Since children are expected to go at break (juniors) some were having accidents until it was discovered. Could it be something like that?

[teacherwith2kids]

Has the 'rule' changed from 'you can go when you want to if you ask' to 'you are old enough now so you may only go at break times'?

DS - literal minded to an unusual extent - took the latter too literally, and would wet himself rather than ask, because that was 'against the rules'. I had to remind his Y4 and Y5 teachers not to make this a 'rule', as the combination of 'believing it not to be allowed' and the anxiety that he MIGHT need to go was disastrous.

To solve the original problem - for us it arose in Y3, as the 'rule' changed between KS1 and KS2 - his teacher took him aside, looked him in the eye and told him that HIS rule was that he was ALWAYS allowed to go, as she knew he would never go if he didn't need to.

He never needed to go in class time after that - it was the anxiety that made him need the toilet so uncontrollably.

[NS2k15]

Thanks for the advice. I will speak to his teacher after the new year but he does put his hand up to answer questions. I will take him to back to the GP for further tests and discuss possible solutions.

[Hairyfairy01]

Is this a new thing for ds? How is he at home / night? If it's not a new thing or if he's like it at home as well I would be wanting the GP to refer on. The ERIC site can be useful.

[NS2k15]

What would you all think an appropriate continence policy for a primary school. Should I be contacted and told to take him home or drop off clothes or should the school change him and I be told at the end of the day?

[MyCatHasStaff]

Until you get to the cause, and hopefully a solution, it would be a good idea to put a carrier bag, clean pants and trousers into his bag. If the school sort him out (which they should) it will be really obvious his clothes have been changed. Having his own would cut down the embarrassment and kerfuffle of changing.