Should a preschool deal with soiling?

[poomageddon]

Does anyone else go to a preschool where they won't deal with soiling?

I don't know what the legal position is but that is absolutely disgraceful. At my son's nursery (children up to the age of 5 and a half) they were absolutely explicit that personal care was part of their job. And no way would they have hiddenbehind a weasely ' we are not allowed to' because they respected children and put them first.

I volunteer at two school nurseries with the nursery class (3 to 4) one happily help children with toileting, one I saw a TA refusing to clean a three year old boy's bottom - I was so disgusted with her, I did it. No way was I leaving a little child with shit on him, and sending him home with shit on him. If you don't want to deal with personal care don't take a job with young children.

Hazeyjane.....I'm being serious, most 3 and 4 year olds soiling their pants regularly? I really don't think so? My preschool expected pre schoolers to be well potty trained by then, it was frowned upon if they weren't

I know plenty of people who don't even start toilet training till their children have turned three.

@TabbyMumz My preschooler started there at 2 years 4 months. Toilet training not even BEGUN, let alone successfully concluded.

DS started preschool - and it is a preschool, attached to a school - at just under 2.5 years old. He obviously wasn't potty trained and this wasn't a problem. He's also had the odd accident since being trained and some utter doozies while he was training (fortunately it only took a week or so to crack, but what a week) and again - no problem.

In any case, all that is a red herring. It is the people who were supposed to be caring for the op's child and who left him in what must have been an uncomfortable at best situation for two hours that are the issue here. It's an awful way for any childcare setting to behave.

Ì think that most children in a preschool will have accidents at some point in their life at preschool. I think that some will have accidents more regularly and will go on to have accidents when they start school. I think a few children are just learning to use the toilet and so will have accidents. I think a few children will have or will go into have medical or additional needs and difficulties with toileting may go on for longer.

All of these children deserve respect and dignity in supporting this area of development, just as they would in any area of development. Thankfully the Equalities Act of 2010 means that schools and EY settings can no longer discriminate against a child who is delayed in any area of their development, including toileting.

Thepants999...Where I live they can't start proper preschool (in the school), until the September after they turn 3. That's what I presumed this was. I started potty training my child at 3 and we were done by the September. Of course you can't expect it at 2.5 years old, no one would. Mine were still at a nursery at 2.5.

They absolutely have to deal with it. It is a legal requirement to meet children's welfare and well-being. Meet with the manager and if you get no joy then mention that you will pass on your concerns regarding poor care to Ofsted.

That's terrible! My DD is in a nursery class at a private school and not toilet trained (Not for lack of trying!) and her teacher wouldn't dream of not changing her!

Good god. I've been a nursery nurse for over 20 years and have changed hundreds of pairs of pooey pants.... Its part of my job!!

What does it say in the terms and conditions?

My child's pre school accepts kids in nappies and has no problem dealing with any array of toilet matters. However my older boys attended a pre school where they would phone if the child did a poop in the nappy.

Their not allowed for child protection purposes as places child at risk of sexual assault. Thank the nursery workers a few years back that were prosecuted. You can teach your child to sort them selves out else they are required to call you to come do it.

Tricia

Everything you have saud in your post is incorrect.

Their not allowed for child protection purposes as places child at risk of sexual assault.
Don't be daft
Of course nursery staff change children!

@ts Their policy states they change soiling, use blue gloves etc.

@TriciaH87 they said they weren't covered, but policy says different. I don't understand why all friends' kids nurseries and preschools can change kids if this is the case and a safeguarding issue? Shouldn't it be consistent?

@Ozziewozzie - were parents called in to change kids at your older boys preschool then?

Op try your local authority Safeguarding team, ours definitely have a policy on this . Plus the H&S team. I would also ask for the nursery complaints policy too. Follow it to the letter and write including your point about what they say they do versus what the actually did. Feel very sorry for your poor DC.

I am childcare trained. It depends on settings. Preschool children are assumed to be old enough to be toilet trained meaning they are not covered by insurance for this and by doing so if someone claims fail play they have no protection. Nurseries have the correct cover because they can deal with babies from 6 weeks of age who obviously cannot do this themselves.

Tricia, whatever your training is, that's all absolute nonsense. There's no insurance issue. Anyone working with early years children whether childminders, nurseries, preschool or primary school have a responsibility to adequately care for children's physical welfare - that includes changing them.

If they are constantly soiling themselves then I would phone a parent. However, if it was an accident then no I wouldn't phone. And chnage

I had this last week with my 5 year old son (SN) he was still in nappies when he started and last week I tried to start with toileting training again he's ok with wees still has accidents but has improved since the start.

He had 2 poo accidents in the week and I was called to collect him as they aren't allowed to change poo accidents I was shocked! When I got to school and he was stood in the bathroom still in dirty underwear.

He never poo in school while in nappies but he goes straight after school so we are doing a mad dash to get home now he's in underwear.

Tricia I think that it is more defensible to provide essential care for a child you are responsible for that to face an abuse allegation. I think that a childcare provider knowingly leaving soiled children to sit and play in their own excrement is definitely a safeguarding concern!

The 3 pieces of legislation which should inform any intimate care policy within a setting are....
The convention on the Rights of Child which states that all children are entitled to:
• Privacy. (article 16)
• Good quality health care. (article 24)
• Those who have any kind of disability have the right to special care and support so that they can live full and independent lives.(article 23)

The Equality Act of 2010 which states that:
• Pupils must not be discriminated against by not making reasonable adjustments or refusing to admit.
• Schools must not victimise a pupil by not affording the pupil access to a benefit, facility or service, or treat them less favourably than other pupils.

And the EYFS. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework states that all children are able to take up their entitlement in a high-quality setting.
• Children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met (3.1).
• Providers must take all necessary steps to keep children safe and well (3.2).
• It states that it ‘seeks to provide: equality of opportunity and antidiscriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported’.

Education providers have an obligation to meet the needs of the children with delayed self-care in the same way as they would meet the individual needs of a child
with any other area of delay.
Asking parents to come and change their child could be challenged as being in direct contravention of the Equalities Act.

I don't know what childcare training you have had, Tricia but you are wrong in your assertions.

@Downhillrider that's horrid for your poor DS. There's some good advice on this thread, which might help in challenging the policy.