The following is taken from the ERIC website. This is for schools, but I would think it applies to a school nursery that takes funding.
- Do two members of staff need to be present to change my child?
There is no legal requirement for two members of staff to be present, so schools should not refuse to clean a child if only one member of staff is available to leave the classroom.
For safeguarding reasons, staff who help with intimate care should make sure another member of staff is aware they are going to change a child and is in the vicinity and visible or audible (see page 14 of the 'Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children and young people in education settings', 2015).
It is good practice to ensure that all aspects of continence care in school are documented in advance, for instance using an individual health care plan making sure parental consent is obtained for named carers to meet the child's needs.
The guidance also states that 'intimate or personal care procedures should not involve more than one member of staff unless the pupil’s care plan specifies the reason for this.' So not only is there no need for two members of staff to be present, it is in fact discouraged unless the child needs two members of staff.
- Are schools allowed to call a parent or carer in to change their child if they've had an accident?
Although school staff should use their discretion and judge each case on its merits with reference to a child’s individual healthcare plan, it is not generally acceptable practice to ask parents to come into school to change their child after they've wet or soiled themselves.
Only one member of staff needs to be present when changing a child, as long as another member of staff is nearby, so it shouldn't be necessary to call in a parent (see answer to question 2).
It is tantamount to abuse to force/allow a child to sit in wet or soiled underwear until their parent or guardian can come in to change them.
For more detail on this and other unacceptable practice, see the statutory guidance on implementing the Children and Families Act.
The Department for Education's statutory guidance on supporting pupils at school with medical conditions states it is not acceptable for schools to:
Prevent pupils from drinking, eating or taking toilet or other breaks whenever they need to in order to manage their medical condition effectively;
Require parents, or otherwise make them feel obliged, to attend school to administer medication or provide medical support to their child, including with toileting issues. No parent should have to give up working because the school is failing to support their child’s medical needs;
Prevent children from participating, or create unnecessary barriers to children participating in any aspect of school life, including school trips, e.g. by requiring parents to accompany the child.