Do the staff at pre-schools normally change nappies?

[Bubbaloo]

Ds1 starts next week,just 2 1/2 hours a day,twice a week and have been told that they don't change nappies there.
Tbh,he probably won't need changing and obviously I'll chamge him before he goes,but when I mentioned it to a friend today,she thought it was rather odd.
Just wondered if that was the 'norm' amongst mosts pre-schoools.Her ds goes to a nursery twice a week,where they change him if need be and she said she thought all pre-schools would do the same.
Thanks.

[Bubbaloo]

That's really interesting,thanks.

Ds1 started yesterday and I stayed with him as it was his first day.At about 10.30 they realised someone needed a nappy change and when they found the right child,they called his mum in.There were 4 staff and 16 children.
Today I left him on his own and was half expecting a call whilst walking around Sainsburys as he normally wakes with a dirty nappy and hadn't done,but he was fine and he really enjoyed the morning there.
They had 6 staff today as there seemed to be a few more children.
He's no where near ready to come out of nappies yet so I'll guess I'll see how it goes and hope he doesn't mess any nappies while he's there.

[AussieSim]

Here they kinda expect that they are toilet trained by 3 or actively training. They kind of pushed me along with DS1 to get me going with the training when he turned 3 and I hadn't had much luck. With DS2 I have just started training and he is 2.5, as I have his name down at a couple of preschools that I know would prefer it if he was out of nappies.

[islandofsodor]

They are talking rubbish, child protection rules do NOT stipulate there should be two staff.

The Disability Discrimation Act says:

"Education providers have an obligation to meet the needs of children with delayed personal development in the same way as they would meet the individual needs of children with delayed language, or any other kind of delayed development. Children should not be excluded from normal pre-school activities solely because of incontinence

Asking parents of a child to come and change a child is likely to be a direct contravention of the Disability Discrimation Act, and leaving a child in a soiled nappy for any length of time pending the return of the parent is a form of abuse.

The normal process of changing a nappy should not raise child protection concerns, and there are no regulations that indicate that a second member of staff must be available to supervise the nappy changing process to ensure that abuse does not take place. Few setting/schools will have the staffing resources to provide two members of staff for nappy changing and CRB checks are carried out to ensure the safety of children with staff employed in childcare and education settings. "

[Bubbaloo]

I did find it a bit strange that they'd obviously have enough staff to change a child who was out of nappies if they had an accident,but not one who was still in nappies.
Ds1's first day is tomorrow and I'll be staying there with him,so I'll make a point of seeing just how many staff and children they actually have.
Nappies aside,they were highly recommended.

[IdrisTheDragon]

The pre-school that DS went to and DD will go to used to specify that children should be toilet trained before they went (when DS started 1.5 years ago).

This has changed now and they change nappies as necessary. They operate in a church hall, are Ofsted registered and as far as I know only have one person changing children at once. When they changed the policy, they bought a changing mat and a nappy bin as far as I know.

[colditz]

Ds1's preschool changed his nappies, and supported his toilet training, and sluiced his pooey pants. They were great.

[Sidge]

Stuff that, I would find another pre-school! Not enough staff??

Sounds like cobblers to me about 'child protection rules' - all staff should be CRB checked anyway so why would it take 2 of them?

We'd be stuffed - DD2 is likely to be in nappies for years (medical reasons) so what would they do for someone like her? Not take her in the first place?

[Bubbaloo]

Just to let you know I phoned the pre school today and found out their reason for not changing nappies.
They basically said that apart from only having the church hall with a smallish toilet,they also don't have enough staff.Due to child protection rules they have to have 2 people to change a nappy which isn't really 'do-able'.
They said if he was out of nappies and had an accident they would change his clothing though and also said if he soils his nappy they will phone me to come and change him.Should be fun if I'm out somewhere and have to dash back.

[TheBlonde]

Mine changes them no problem

[ChippyMinton]

Our pre-school (ofsted, term time, 3 hour sessions, in a church hall), changes nappies. They are very supportive of potty training too.

[pollypumpkin]

have not read whole thread but YES staff should change nappies - to not do so is discriminatory - at our nursery we have designated nappy changing times AS WELL as changing nappies when they are obviously wet/soiled. parents can be a bit naughty in dropping children off already in a dirty nappy (well, it's quite rare that they do that). But if we didn't change them, then how long would it be before the next change! the welfare of the child always must come first. Settings can always make a nappy changing area if need be, it's not rocket science.

[yurt1]

I went into help out in ds1's school and ended up replacing nappies (didn't actually change them but helped get the kiddies dressed again). Honest to god I dont know why people make such a fuss- especially about a pre-schooler. After trying to wee in the dolls house toilet he brought me the toilet PECS card - in case I didn't know what it was

Is there any reason for cutting her tongue off? PMSL

[Lizzylou]

At DS's preschool they change nappies (from age 2).

[yurt1]

That calling the mum in really irritates me. And its absolutely wrong. Quote the DfES recommendations at them.

[mumfor1standfinaltime]

Playschool that ds goes to will change nappies (ofsted), but others I had put his name down for won't and I was told he had to be 'dry'.

[Bubbaloo]

Sounds like it's pretty mixed then.
I need to phone them on Monday to check something else so I'll mention it again and see what their reason's are for not doing so.

[hairycaterpillar]

Ours doesn't, they prefer them to be out of nappies. I know one parent who's ds was in pull-ups and if he did a poo, mum was called in to change him (didn't happen much though...it is only 2.5hrs).

[yurt1]

oh how weird ds1 has just tried to wee in his dolls house toilet ffs.

[nutcracker]

Dd1 lost a place at playgroup once because on her first day she was still in nappies so they refues to take her.

[yurt1]

This is from that SureStart document I linked to, there's loads more useful stuff on there:

Facilities

Playgroups and schools are now admitting younger children, some of whom who, by virtue of their immaturity, are likely to have occasional accidents, especially in the first few months after admission. Current DfES recommendations for purpose built foundation stage units include an area for changing and showering children in order to meet the personal development needs of young children. There is also evidence that there is a trend for the parents of children with more complex needs to request a place for their child in a mainstream school. A suitable place for changing children therefore, should have a high priority in any setting?s/school?s Access Plan. The Department of Health recommends that one extended cubicle with a wash basin should be provided in each school for children with disabilities. If it is not possible to provide a purpose built changing area, then it is possible to purchase a changing mat, and change the child on the floor or on another suitable surface. A ?Do not enter? sign (visually illustrated) can be placed on the toilet door to ensure that privacy and dignity are maintained during the time taken to change the child. Clean, fresh water drinking facilities should be available at all times.

[moljam]

id find different setting.

[eandh]

but they have spare knickers/pants and trousers and socks for any accidents (dd has had 2 whilst shes been there mainly because shes so busy having fun she forgets she needs the loo )