Wee accidents at school (please help)

[ag23]

DD has just started back to school and gone into year 1 (only just turned 5) and has had quite a few wee accidents since starting, at least 3 in the first week, only at school, (luckily she has very lovely teachers). It wasn’t even this bad when she started reception, had a couple the first few weeks when she started, which is normal of course, but when she started to settle in after a few weeks, she started having very minimal accidents, she would only ever wet herself once a month max, and only had 2 wee accidents over the summer.

But she started back at school last week, and she wet herself twice in the first day, i was so shocked, her teacher wasn’t shocked so much. Said she was probably nervous and just adjusting to her new teachers and the new room, and she would probably be dry tomorrow. I asked DD if she knew what happened, she just said both times she was distracted by it all and didn’t realise how desperate she was, and that she did make it to the toilet but just couldn’t pull her pants down in time.
Next few days she came out again having wet herself, said she didn’t know she needed a wee so badly and so each time she went to go and ask, she would be so desperate, she would wee herself whilst stood in front of her teacher or on the way to ask if she could go.

Is this just to do with readjusting? Because I thought that when she stopped having accidents in reception and over the summer that it would be it for us and she was become more continent. Obviously there’s always going to be the odd slip up where she doesn’t make it in time, because she is only 5.

Also, I always feel so awful when her teacher hands me the dreaded plastic bag. I know she says it’s ok she doesn’t mind, and ks1 teachers are trained for it, but I still feel awful every time.

Worried i’m doing something wrong. Your help would be very much appreciated, thank you 😰

I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong and as a y1 teacher, this is a very normal thing that happens with the transition. Perhaps not as often as you are describing (but you seem to be describing a fairly high level of accidents anyway for a 5 year old so given her starting level doesn’t sound ott). Maybe have a chat with the teacher about whether they are able to prompt dd to go every hour or so as she’s obviously not managing it herself right now. Sounds like she’s got too many other lovely things to be doing!

It is nerves. She is trying hard to listen/follow instructions. She will be fine!!

She is still so small, she is distracted.

If you were posting this 2 months in i would be thinking why? But it has been no time. She is overwhelmed.

she will be fine! Fear not x

Ah thank you so much, coming from a teacher that's definitely relieving. Yes, I was thinking of maybe asking the teacher to prompt her but was worried she wouldn't want that responsibility or say it's not part of her job etc. But i'll bring it up on monday, she's been very understanding and lovely with DD cheering her up when she's upset to have had an accident.

Thank you for your response I really appreciate it x

Yeah, I think you're right. She's trying to adjust, I can tell it's not on purpose because she's a good little one and gets a bit upset when it happens, that's why i'm not too sure what to do. But also, i'm still quite young myself (closer to her age than i am to 40) so i don't have any friends or know other mums my age etc to turn to for advice, so thank you so much for your answer it really helps xx

Are the toilets the same as the one's she used last year? Is she confident finding them from her new classroom?

Our school had a toilet right by the reception class so could go as needed. Y1 classroom was further away so they had to ask the teacher before leaving. They were always allowed out, but that extra couple of minutes to get the teachers attention and then a longer walk to get to the toilet made for a few accidents in the first couple of weeks.

Do you think it might we worth ruling out something like a uti? Might explain the sudden urgency.

If not I'd chalk it up to nerves/excitement etc and possibly suggest that she tries on the toilet every break and lunch.

No, Reception classroom toilets were in the room, whereas year 1 and year 2 share toilets, which are just a few steps away from the classroom doors.
I did ask if she knew where they were and she said she did, as she did get there when she had her first accident, just wasn't quick enough to sit down. They had to ask to go in reception too, so she wasn't scared to ask, so not too sure xx

Yeah I'm thinking of seeing a doctor just in case, could just be bad timing of an infection. If not, I think you might be right. Thank you xx