To think I was put in an unacceptable situation regarding SEN students toileting needs?

[twelfthdoctor]

I am genuinely not sure and would appreciate second opinions on this. Today was my first full day as an early years TA apprentice in a mainstream reception class and I'm totally overwhelmed. I've never worked in a school or with SEN students other than some volunteering.

A non verbal 4 year girl with autism soiled her clothes and I was asked to take her to the toilet, change her, and walk her back to class. It was difficult but I managed. Later, she did it again but pooped. I was told again to take her to the bathroom and change her clothes. I was not given any training or safeguarding information regarding personal care prior to this. I cleaned her up as much as possible and then tried to get her in fresh clothes, at which point she became very distressed and refused to get changed. I couldn't let her walk around naked obviously but struggled to get her dressed, she wouldn't wear her trousers and then refused to come to class and escalated into a full meltdown - hitting her head, throwing herself against the floor, kicking and lashing out at me. I couldn't leave her alone but they're was no one else here so I called out to another teacher who offered to help take her to lunch but told me I would have to deal with another SEN boy who has also pooped himself and change him too. Later the same day I was told to supervise 4 SEN children outdoors alone. The teacher also informed me that a new SEN could would arrive tomorrow and I would be in charge of looking after him outdoors while the class learns inside and that I would be doing the first girls toileting needs and training her from now on.

Aibu to feel like I should have been given some support or training on personal care, particularly regarding SEN students? Or been given more information regarding these students, and that it was a lot for one day? I'm not a SEN TA and while I love all the kids and it's part of the job, I worry too much responsibility will be passed into me and I would like to be able to fulfill it safely. I'm just super frazzled and while I did the best I could at the time I'm just feeling bad about myself like I messed up.

No one needs to acknowledge it, it's not relevant to the position OP finds herself in.

I am thinking this is poor safeguarding and non existent training. Run for the hills.

Yes mainstream is probably the wrong environment but due to pushes for inclusion these children are being placed in mainstream. I work at a school where last years reception cohort included a child who was non verbal, had to be fed in a high chair and changed on a changing table. This is the new reality.

🙄

Poor child.

It sounds like the teacher over estimated your experience based on the fact that you've worked in an SEN school, albeit on a voluntary basis. You need to speak to your line manager about what happened and that you need a) training b) proper ppe and supplies like wipes etc and c) a behaviour management plan for the child if they have sensory issues with clothes and challenging behaviours when distressed.

Unfortunately it is quite normal now for TAs to have to deal with toileting difficulties with SEN children, every TA I know would describe this as a normal part of their duties. Often the children are in a mainstream school because there isn't a place available for them in a special school so it's a case of trying to accommodate their needs until a place becomes available. It's not really fair on the school staff or the child when the school isn't able to meet their learning needs so school effectively becomes a babysitting service until an appropriate placement can be found 😞

Indeed. Mainstream is now the default option. I follow Camilla Thurlow from love island on insta and she has been charting her daughter’s autism journey. She is non verbal, diagnosed at two with clear learning delays. They started the EHCP process very early…. And she has been placed in mainstream reception. 🤷‍♀️

I would say my LA is better than most
We have two special needs primary schools
One for childfren with moderate to severe learning disabillies and one for childften with severe to profound learning disabillities
And two special needs high schools for the same
All four have doubled in capacity over the past ten years
Due to the growing needs of children
We allso have several primay and secondary schools with autism hubs.

If a parent has the right to choose a mainstream school knowing that their child really should be in a SEN school, ie non verbal and soiling thrmselves etc then they should be made to come in to the school and clean up their child. It is not fair on the child, other children or teachers.

Schools aren't allowed to do that.

Though in my experience, very few parents insist on mainstream. They are begging for special school and it is the LA that insists on mainstream.

I know someone who having battled for special school since Reception for her child has finally been accepted and her child is now in Year 3 and has had to be in mainstream all this time. This child is also non verbal and not potty trained. That's how long it can take.

In my experience not many parents
‘choose’ mainstream school for their SEN children. It’s very hard and can be a difficult process to get a place in a SEN school, even when the child is completely unsuited to mainstream.

They’re treating you as a TA not a TA apprentice. That’s unacceptable and they’re going it to save money.

Didn’t blame parents, I blamed the system for clearly not having enough specialist provision. Teaching staff shouldn’t be cleaning up poo.

My non verbal DS toilet trained normally at 3. He just sort of got it and was fully trained including at night within a week. I must have been lucky.