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Original poster

Male teachers can supervise girls changing rooms under new NSPCC guidance.

58 replies

allthingsinmoderation · 14/09/2026 13:52

Male teachers can supervise girls changing rooms under new NSPCC guidance.
Previous guidance said supervision must be by the same sex staff.
That guidance has been removed/omitted.
AIBU to think that is an unwise lack of safeguarding and wonder why the same sex staff guidance was omitted?

OP posts:
dustabsorber · 14/09/2026 14:34

So if there is a serious medical emergency in a female changing room, a male first responder couldn't go in?

BreezyClouds · 14/09/2026 14:31

Sex Matters explains the issues.

BreezyClouds · 14/09/2026 14:30

allthingsinmoderation · 14/09/2026 14:26

it USED TO SAY kids should be supervised by someone of the same SEX not gender....
It still does in sports guidance but its has been omitted in schools guidance due to they say in their statement "lack of clarity" from government and awaiting EHRC updates.

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No, you are wrong

Male teachers can supervise girls changing rooms under new NSPCC guidance.
pragmatismuniversalsentimentalist · 14/09/2026 14:26

The problem with this you are all forgetting is that there are male primary school teachers who necessarily have to supervise a mixed class of children changing for PE. A male year 2 or year 3 teacher who doesn't have a female TA or otherwise available to them doesnt have much choice do they, primary schools rarely have dedicated changing rooms for children, in year 6 often the self conscious girls with changing bodies will use the toilets to change.

Millytante · 14/09/2026 14:26

allthingsinmoderation · 14/09/2026 13:56

Sorry, i don't know how to link but its an article in the Telegraph.

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Seems after all that your title isn’t reflecting the facts correctly, which is a considerable relief.

Original poster
allthingsinmoderation · 14/09/2026 14:26

BreezyClouds · 14/09/2026 14:23

It does not say that.

It USED TO SAY kids should be supervised by someone of the same gender, if you read that as gender identity rather than sex it could mean a trans woman (man) supervising girls.

They've removed that part so now it gives no advice.

It would have been nice for the papers to have used these headlines when it released the old guidance, but they were too afraid.

Sex Matters are raising issues with their guidance but this isn't it.

it USED TO SAY kids should be supervised by someone of the same SEX not gender....
It still does in sports guidance but its has been omitted in schools guidance due to they say in their statement "lack of clarity" from government and awaiting EHRC updates.

OP posts:
Original poster
allthingsinmoderation · 14/09/2026 14:24

TooBigForMyBoots · 14/09/2026 14:19

False media reports on supervision of children in changing rooms

Seems to be saying sports guidance recommends same sex supervision of changing rooms but schools guidance reflects(omits that recommendation) due to lack of clarity from the government and awaiting updated from EHRC?

OP posts:
BreezyClouds · 14/09/2026 14:23

It does not say that.

It USED TO SAY kids should be supervised by someone of the same gender, if you read that as gender identity rather than sex it could mean a trans woman (man) supervising girls.

They've removed that part so now it gives no advice.

It would have been nice for the papers to have used these headlines when it released the old guidance, but they were too afraid.

Sex Matters are raising issues with their guidance but this isn't it.

Beece · 14/09/2026 14:23

The NSPCC just needed to clearly state that their recommendation was that opposite sex staff members should never - under any circumstances- supervise girls in the changing rooms. Crystal clear. But it wasn’t. Why not.

Original poster
allthingsinmoderation · 14/09/2026 14:22

EnterQueene · 14/09/2026 14:16

The right wing media knows exactly which buttons to press to start pointless online panic. Has anyone blamed trans people yet? It’s surely just a matter of time, along with immigrants & Meghan Markle, they appear to be responsible for all the world’s woes.

i just want to know if the NSPCC guidance recommends same sex supervision of changing rooms as this seems to be a sensible safeguarding measure.There are reports this guidance had been omitted due to lack of clarity from the government.
I dont think any males should access the female changing rooms unless in an emergency situation. I dont know what any of the people you mention have to do with this issue though.

OP posts:
TooBigForMyBoots · 14/09/2026 14:19

False media reports on supervision of children in changing rooms

Male teachers can supervise girls changing rooms under new NSPCC guidance.
Original poster
allthingsinmoderation · 14/09/2026 14:18

TooBigForMyBoots · 14/09/2026 14:11

The NSPCC have made a statement, claiming this is false.

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/news-opinion/2026/false-media-report-supervision/

Seems to be saying the sports guidance says supervision must be same sex.
But their guidance for schools reflects current government guidance which is unclear on this issue and is pending review following any further updates from EHRC.

OP posts:
EnterQueene · 14/09/2026 14:16

The right wing media knows exactly which buttons to press to start pointless online panic. Has anyone blamed trans people yet? It’s surely just a matter of time, along with immigrants & Meghan Markle, they appear to be responsible for all the world’s woes.

Suspicioustoenails · 14/09/2026 14:13

""The previous version of the guidance said: “Where possible, the adults who are supervising children getting changed should be of the same gender as them.” This should have said “sex”, not gender, but at least it gave schools a clear rule. The new version has dropped this advice completely, and now gives schools no guidance at all on who should supervise children while they change""

Whatever their reasoning or motivation for leaving out the bloody obvious I sincerely doubt that any school is now going to let males supervise girls' changing rooms.
It's never,ever been acceptable practice and it certainly won't start being acceptable practice now whatever this document states. It's " guidance" not a mandate.

Original poster
allthingsinmoderation · 14/09/2026 14:12

PumpinkSpice · 14/09/2026 14:06

I checked and what it tells me that by law the teachers are banned but it's due to allow them to enter in emergencies only.

The change does not mean male teachers are now scheduled to routinely manage girls' changing rooms. It means that in understaffed, off-site, or emergency situations, a male teacher is no longer completely barred by safeguarding rules from acting as the responsible adult nearby.

Are you saying the reason guidance about same sex changing room supervision has been removed because potential emergency situations may occur .
Surely they could have said : changing rooms should be supervised by same sex staff exceptions being emergency situations.

OP posts:
TooBigForMyBoots · 14/09/2026 14:11

The NSPCC have made a statement, claiming this is false.

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/news-opinion/2026/false-media-report-supervision/

Original poster
allthingsinmoderation · 14/09/2026 14:09

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 14/09/2026 14:04

and who?! Who would actually sit and state “male teachers should have the responsibility to supervise young girls changing”?!!

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I dont think the NSPCC stated that.
The previous guidance said changing room supervision should be done by a same sex member of staff,that has now been removed /omitted in new guidance.

OP posts:
Darragon · 14/09/2026 14:08

And yet we’re all supposed to be beholden to their increasingly batshit definitions of child abuse. 🤔 They’re so out of touch now it would be funny if they weren’t clogging up SS’s time and resources with their bonkers overly broad definition of abuse meaning actual dangerous abusers don’t get given enough attention. It’s like they want to make it impossible to stop real abusers at this point. But lots of people on MN think they can do no wrong.

HRTQueen · 14/09/2026 14:08

Batties · 14/09/2026 14:05

Because to some, the safety, dignity and privacy of girls is not as important as the feelings of men

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^ exactly

That a few men may feel offended that parents and girls may feel uncomfortable is more important.

Anyone who takes offence when boundaries are put in place and they have to change their behaviour is someone that needs to be kept away from young children/vulnerable people and someone you need to be wary of

PumpinkSpice · 14/09/2026 14:06

I checked and what it tells me that by law the teachers are banned but it's due to allow them to enter in emergencies only.

The change does not mean male teachers are now scheduled to routinely manage girls' changing rooms. It means that in understaffed, off-site, or emergency situations, a male teacher is no longer completely barred by safeguarding rules from acting as the responsible adult nearby.

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 14/09/2026 14:05

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 14/09/2026 14:04

and who?! Who would actually sit and state “male teachers should have the responsibility to supervise young girls changing”?!!

Show quote history

Dunno but I bet the NSPCC doesn't actually say that

Batties · 14/09/2026 14:05

KilkennyCats · 14/09/2026 13:55

Why?? Why would they do that?

Because to some, the safety, dignity and privacy of girls is not as important as the feelings of men

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 14/09/2026 14:04

KilkennyCats · 14/09/2026 13:55

Why?? Why would they do that?

and who?! Who would actually sit and state “male teachers should have the responsibility to supervise young girls changing”?!!

Beece · 14/09/2026 14:02

KilkennyCats · 14/09/2026 13:55

Why?? Why would they do that?

Won’t anyone think of the poor porn-sick men?

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