The school are pushing / insisting on underpants.

[Jadenruby]

I'm feeling so under pressure about this as the school are pressuring me to send my DS in underpants, he's still incontinent and although has an interest in the toilet he is unaware of his need to go. his gp and occupational therapist have both confirmed this but the school seem to be ignoring their input.

I'm not sure where to complain to or what to do to get the school to back off. He's 5 and just started the autism disorder assessments.

Rainbows your school has 1000% more children in nappies than anyone else in the country, including 4 children in wheelchairs who also happen to be incontinent, 2 who just are incontinent (But seeing a doctor) and a few "foundation" stage kids (Who you can't be bothered to make something up for)?

Plus no one has 1:1 and your 4 TAs are spead across 14 classes and 4 buildings.

But it's okay as you "Get a bit of funding and work with parents to help them" But give very poor demining adsvice online all about how the TA's are hard done by, so not really helping parents at all.

Guys, sounds like some of you are attacking Rainbow for no good reason?
She is only stating what's it's like at her school, and talking about her own experience. What's wrong with that?

Guys, sounds like some of you are attacking Rainbow for no good reason?
She is only stating what's it's like at her school, and talking about her own experience. What's wrong with that?

The op asked for help with what to do, not "Oh someone think of how much work your putting on TA's in my imaginary school.".

That's what's wrong with it.

The last thing someone in the OP's situation wants is for someone to guilt trip her about school staff just becuase she wants a school to follow the law and give her child the same right to education as anyone else.
THAT is what's disgusting.

I am not attacking but Rainbows implied that we parents have no idea about the realities of providing for a child needs at school. I like a lot of parents have fought hard to make sure my child has every bit of funding available, in order that he can access an education it is a constant and ongoing battle as his needs change. I also work with disabled children. I wish teachers would try to understand the realities for parents. It is like a punch in the guts to hear our children described in terms of how much of a burden they are and how much their very presence in school impacts negatively on the other children

I think what OP needs to do is go have a meeting with school, explain why nappy is better option than underpants, in logical way. I just think there maybe a simple misunderstanding. If the school had no experience of this kind of need, they maybe thinking forcing op's dc into wearing underpants would make toilet train quickly, which is completely wrong.
Although it's completely different issue, I have a child with chronic illness, so I do understand there are so many problem to be solved.
But I still think it's better to listen to the opinions of people who deal with it in regular/daily basis as well.

The OP doesn't need to explain why her son needs to be in a nappy. Instead she needs to explain that it's imperitive they follow medical advice. Failure to do will result in further follow up with the school governors, LEA and your local MP.

I will bow out of this. I happen to care about the children, the parents and the staff. We may be unusual, in an LA that has few special schools and has inclusion high on the agenda, it's pretty normal here. Sorry that you think this imaginary, why I would pretend to be a HT I'm not really sure.

I think we have to take what people say as true as Troll Hunting isn't permitted.

I don't have a lot of sympathy for the school's PoV though. Maybe because I have seen it done so well that it sort of astounds me it is even worth bringing up. We care for and educate children, whatever that entails. Fortunately there is legislation to ensure that this is done and I hope OP has gained info from this thread that helps her access what should be just a minor hurdle in a good school that has the welfare of all its pupils at the forefront of its mission statement.

OP, do you hav a paediatric incontinence nurse involved in your childs care? Wouldnt the school have to follow the professionals advice?

I'm fascinated by how 10 children with additional needs/continence issues can be spread across 14 classes...

Of course the reality is that it is the TAs who are spread across 14 classes - if those 4 TAs are employed because of the extra burden of work caring for those 10 children, then they shouldn't really be being utilised in other classrooms. Unless, of course, those 10 children with continence issues don't actually take all that much time to care for, and so the TAs would otherwise be twiddling their thumbs, and so are filling in their time dngother jobs. But then, oh no, one pesky kids with additional needs then dare to need the TAs wh were employed to help them in the first place, taking those TAs away from the poor other children who sometimes need occasional support.

You honestly couldn't make it up.

I worked in a school with three buildings. (main school, dining room/part time class room, and portacabin. ) they were considering converting a fourth building. (old caretakers house) that was the only one though. and they did nothave 14 classes as far as I remember.

Changing a child in the corner of the classroom would be seen as totally unreasonable. Yes, schools do have a duty but with that comes an assumption that all involved have the resources needed.

Actually rainbow it isn't. The fact is it's fully legal and specifically put in place to stop people using "Lack of facilities", "not equipped" and "we don't have the resources needed" as an excuse, Just as you are doing.

It's perfectly fine to change a child's nappy in the corner of an early years classroom, or behind the teachers desk to give a little privacy if appropriate facilities are unavailable to the school. It's also a lie that 2 people have to be present at the time.

On top of all the other holes people have pointed out in your story, You also don't seem to know much about the law. Unfortunately us parents do because we have to in order for our children to get an education.

Jaden your school should have something like this available for you to read regarding their policy on changing.

It is unfortunately ime common for mainstream schools to struggle with this.

As assessments for ASD are underway it really is their duty to provide what is needed.

Although not an appropriate analogy in the medical sense, a child on insulin would need staff to be trained and allocated to manage their medication, as with epilepsy and many other additional needs.

Links above are good, I'd keep returning to the professionals for help to help the school get it. Very frustrating

Thank you all so much. There is some brilliant advice here. I will be arranging a meeting with the school nurse of this district as soon as possible. I this done through the school?

We are on a waiting list for the incontinence nurse service and have also been given the forms for the free nappy service. It's all quite overwhelming right now, the nappy forms are very in depth.

Not one has 1:1, 4 in wheelchairs, 2 with continence issues, under a paediatrician and 4 ASD in foundation stage. We may be above the average, probably because we are willing to work with parents etc. and don't make a big deal of it.

If absolutely none of those children has a 1:1, even part time, I suspect that Rainbow's school is failing them. It really should be pushing for EHCPs with adequate funding.

I think we have to take what people say as true as Troll Hunting isn't permitted.

It's not really hunting if the bear decids to shoot itself in the foot. It's pointing out that the bear has got a bullet hole in the foot.

We are on a waiting list for the incontinence nurse service and have also been given the forms for the free nappy service. It's all quite overwhelming right now, the nappy forms are very in depth.

If you need help there are plenty of helpful Mums-netters over in the SNchat and SNchildren sections who can help. Good luck with the School nurse appointment.

My daughter is 7 and has incontinence problems. The school nursing team can send a continence nurse in to speak to the school to make them put something in place to help your child. You can also order protective underwear from the Eric website that look just like underpants/knickers which could help?

Thank you i will look into those underpants.

Yes get the school nurse's phone number from the school office and have a chat over the phone to start with. Good luck with it.

Thank you.

Some of the padded pants are very good.

In my experience with mini pirate they can hold about one full wee, so are great for children who have the odd daily accident. They are no good for poo though and will be useless for a completely un potty trained child.