To be appalled that parents need to be supported by government to potty train their child

Don't want to, of course. But even when you weren't allowed in school or nursery until you were potty trained, staff of younger years would have to deal with accidents (and vomit. And shoes that had stepped in fox poo and walked on the carpet and a whole manner of gag-worthy occurrences).

That has always been a tiny part of the job. Its the scale of it that makes it ridiculous now.

Most do not want to and they shouldn’t have to.

Agree re funding but teachers didn’t sign up for dealing with feces. No one is benefitting from inclusion policies - now more than ever there is the need for specialist schools and this is made even more untenable that teachers are expected to change nappies as well as teach the curriculum. Can you even begin to imagine a day where you are expected to manage the toileting needs of several children and teach a class of 30 - and that’s without taking into account all the other social issues that schools are supposed to manage. It’s an absolute disaster. Your child is entitled to an education but it should be in an appropriate setting, which isn’t main stream school if he needs intimate care.

Tbf most Teachers/TAs are OK with changing nappies for medical or SEN need (don't want to, but accept it's part and parcel). Been a while since I was in infants but we'd have 2 at the most around 2021 ish.

Its the children whose parents just haven't bothered to potty train that are the problem! And they are responsible for the situation becoming unmanageable numbers.

I didn't say I wasn't without sympathy for the situation. Unfortunately I doubt he will get an specialist school so things like this will continue. Also it is mainly left to the TAs to deal with intimate care.

Agree re funding but teachers didn’t sign up for dealing with feces. No one is benefitting from inclusion policies - now more than ever there is the need for specialist schools and this is made even more untenable that teachers are expected to change nappies as well as teach the curriculum. Can you even begin to imagine a day where you are expected to manage the toileting needs of several children and teach a class of 30 - and that’s without taking into account all the other social issues that schools are supposed to manage. It’s an absolute disaster. Your child is entitled to an education but it should be in an appropriate setting, which isn’t main stream school if he needs intimate care.

Agree re funding but teachers didn’t sign up for dealing with feces. No one is benefitting from inclusion policies - now more than ever there is the need for specialist schools and this is made even more untenable that teachers are expected to change nappies as well as teach the curriculum. Can you even begin to imagine a day where you are expected to manage the toileting needs of several children and teach a class of 30 - and that’s without taking into account all the other social issues that schools are supposed to manage. It’s an absolute disaster. Your child is entitled to an education but it should be in an appropriate setting, which isn’t main stream school if he needs intimate care.

No but we were in a situation where many children with additional needs and disabilities were denied pre-school education. Quite often they were the children who would benefit from it most. It was precisely because of this that the law was changed.

I agree with you completely. I also don’t think children should be allowed to start school or nursery (term after third birthday) unless they are potty trained. That used to be the case, and funnily enough, we were not in this inexcusable situation.

Social media and screens taking parents attention away, as well as what it does to kids.
parwnts are more aware of mental health and terrified of traumatizing kids so boundaries etc are harder to set or feel riskier, especially with mix messages on social media - I know im
personally wary of being strict about eating veg etc as I don’t want to give my child an earing disorder but equally I don’t want him malnourished or with rotting teeth either!

i know this’ll be shot down but why don't teachers and their TAs refuse to change the child, and ask the parent to be in hand for when a change is needed. That’d soon sort it out.

Well yes they should be funded but different governments make it hard for the school to get funding. Who else do you propose changes my autistic child's nappy? He is entitled to be at school. He also enjoys going.

Yes if you work then fair enough but if the parents don’t then they could come in especially if it was poo, who wants to have to deal with that if it’s not your child especially at 4 or 5

Couldn’t you go in to do it?

that’s what would have happened in the past

When do I get to work then?

Couldn’t you go in to do it?

that’s what would have happened in the past

So parents of disabled children aren't allowed to work? (But also moaned at for claiming benefits)

Couldn’t you go in to do it?

that’s what would have happened in the past

No child should be going to school in nappies. It is completely unacceptable.

I do agree it's a lot of parents being lazy BUT I think there's also other factors at play.

Firstly (someone mentioned here) HVs used to give advice, guidance, and a healthy dose of shame if you hadn't done it. Well now you don't typically see a HV, at least in my area, after 2 so that help/boot up the arse has gone

Secondly, mother's are much more likely to work than they used to, most households can't survive on a single income. The affect this has is where do you find the time to potty train? Very few kids will get it after a couple of days, you need at least a week or two in the house no distractions to just get it done, nurseries will support when they return to nursery but can't really take the lead on potty training, you have to break the back of it first. Is not very enticing when you only get 4weeks annual leave to spend 25-50% of it potty training. I'm taking a week (next week heaven help me) unpaid parental leave to get DS started with potty training, but plenty couldn't afford to do this.

Well yes they should be funded but different governments make it hard for the school to get funding. Who else do you propose changes my autistic child's nappy? He is entitled to be at school. He also enjoys going.