Mayflower primary school - nappy changing facilities for school aged children

[2011j]

AIBU to think this shouldn't be necessary?

Not including those with sen, children should be potty trained before starting school - AIBU?

This is where places like SureStart centres were amazing. Their entire purposes was to support families who were struggling. I think we are seeing the natural consequences of stripping away so much early years support.

This just seems fraught with problems to me.

My son is changed in a completely different area to where the rest of the children go to the bathroom. Not half in/half out either, there's no way I'd agree to that.

Interesting about the phone number - is that to do with mobiles? Lots of people don't have a landline anymore and I'm shocked at the number of people who don't transfer their mobile number when they change provider so have a new number every couple of years.

Mobile numbers are longer as well, and nobody actually dials them anymore, we just tap on a name. As a child I knew my home number, grandparents number and the numbers of my two closest friends, and probably a couple of others. Now I only know my own mobile number and the landline number for work.

On potty training, DS took a year. I was really stressed he wasn't going to be ready in time for nursery, but he finally got it in the June/July when he was due to start nursery in the September. He got the weeing in a day - left his nappy off, he wet himself and after that always used the potty, it was the pooing in the potty that was difficult and took a long time.

He was eventually diagnosed autistic.

He still struggles with cutlery now at 12, eats most food with his hands. It was suggested back when he had an OT assessment that we might want to consider assessment for dyspraxia.

I.know people bang on about sure start centres and they may have been a great resource but I don't think they were around for that long were they ?
Also would the so called feckless parents have been bothered to engage with them?

So where does my son go during the day when I am at work ?? He may be soiling himself for years! does he not deserves an education , why should he sit at home for years because of this ?

My nephew is autistic and 7 yrs old, my sister, his mum, is a nurse and tried repeatedly from the age of 2, his communication was very behind and he just wasn't able to get the concept of all the instructions involved, literally 'sit on potty' was too much. He was due to start school in the September and the March before on one of her tries he just suddenly got it. Still in night pull ups and has several accidents a week, often at school but manages mostly. An older relative lives near the school and she can nip down and change him if need be but he has a 1-1 teaching assistant and she will usually change him and the school have a bag of spares for him. I guess some people would have not persisted for so long? As it's very demoralizing when your child just can't grasp something at all. But he could very easily have been in nappies much longer. He's under continence team etc. but it's kids like him im assuming, mainstreamed but significant additional support needs

Kids should be potty trained before starting school unless it’s a sen school which accommodates the kids additional needs.
it’s truly lazy parenting from loser parents that’s keeping kids in nappies. They should be told - nappy means not ready for school and the kids can go to a private school until toilet trained.

13 pages in and you chime in with this " insightful " ( sarcastic ) post .

and the children who are incontinent but have no learning disabilities so would never be accepted into a sen school?

You expect a teacher to clean up your kid?

Yes - it’s my opinion.

You expect a teacher to leave you child sat in their own mess?

I asked a question first. Where are these children who will never get accepted into a sen school going to go?

His teacher doesn't clean him up but yes, he goes to a mainstream school and they clean him up there. Of course I'd expect things to be in place to help him access an education where he has nowhere else to go.

A child with no SEN or other disabilities who is incontinent should be capable of changing themselves by school age. Why would a teacher need to do it?

No because my kids could use the toilet before they started school.

It will be in a personal careplan so not necessarily a teacher but someone will have to do it ,otherwise it's neglect and also discrimination, all kids even incontinent ones are entitled to an education, wether you like that or not.

And whst if theu couldn't?
What if one of your children were disabled?

My son doesn't have a learning disability but he is physically disabled and incapable of changing himself.

Great that you asked your question.
How do the other kids in the class manage with missing class time whilst the teacher cleans up your kid? I’m thinking of kids with additional needs that would struggle being left without a teacher for some time.

So the equivalent would be if they threw up in school. Should the staff leave them sat in their office covered in vomit until the parents arrive?

Many “toilet trained” children have accidents in reception by the way.

If they have no disabilities it's highly unlikely they would be in nappies in the first place it's far easier for a child to go to the toilet then change their own nappy.

You see - I put the effort in to get them to use the toilet.
Disabled kids need an assessment of needs and correct provision provided. HTH

Did you not read my comment? His teacher doesn't change him. Very first thing I said.

He has an intimate care plan, 2 named people on it and they are the ones who change him.

Quite and this isn't a new thing
I have a strong memory of a child being scrubbed in a yellow bucket after a faeces accident when iwas in reception ( I think I was the only other child around for some resson) and I started school in 1978!