Concerned re MS school policy on accidental soiling

[zen1]

DS (4, ASD ) has just started school and I was told by the teacher that if he were to soil himself at school, they would call me and I would have to come and take him home to clean him. DS is out of nappies in the day and has never soiled himself out of the home, but I am worried that if he were to have an accident whilst at school, they would leave him in it till I could pick him up. I don't drive and it takes an absolute minimum of 30 mins to get to the school. So would he just be left for all this time? Also, I don't know how I would get him home on the bus without him being clean, as he always demands to be cleaned up straight away. I don't know what to suggest to them really, if no one would be prepared to clean him, but I am pretty angrythat they would leave him in soiled pants for any length of time.

Your Ds has a recognised disability the staff at school are bound to make reasonable adjustments for him.

I think what you need is a health care plan which you should be able to make with the SENCO.

Lots of schools threaten do this and I have worked in one where senior staff thought it was ok to leave a boy in soiled clothing while his mum caught the bus to school. I made such a fuss that they allowed me to drive to her home and give her a lift to school.

I hope someone comes along with more helpful advice.

Thank you. I think I will send in a bag with wipes etc, but I wasn't sure if there was something in Disability legislation that I could quote if they became "funny" about it (which I think they will!). SENCO is terrible, hobnobs with the LA Assessment Review Placement Officers and categorically does not have DCs interests at heart (is keen on saving cash). She would be useless to approach, unfortunately.

Ineed, what a horrible experience for the boy where you worked. Very nice of you to drive his mum to school.

My son also has ASD and incontinence issues. He's now Home Educated but I was also told this when he was at school. The charity ERIC (google it) gave me some information on continence policies and the law, and official guidance for schools - a letter from me based on this, and the school changed their mind and could now change him.

If the school makes you take him home, that would be an illegal exclusion. It might be worth throwing that into the discussion if necessary.