Outrage as school tells parents 'if your child wears nappies you'll have to come in and change them'

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Parents in Wales are up in arms over a council's decision to require them to come into school to change their children if they have an accident. The new policy, set to take effect next term in Blaenau Gwent schools, applies to reception and nursery pupils who are not yet potty trained.

The council claims that the time spent by teachers on changing children is taking away from teaching and learning time, citing an increase in children starting school without being fully potty trained. However, one parent has spoken out against the policy, calling it "discriminatory" and "unfair", as many children, despite their parents' best efforts, are not fully potty trained when they start school.

The parent, whose three-year-old son is due to start nursery in January, is reconsidering sending him to school, arguing that it is impractical for parents to leave work to change their children and that it would disrupt the school's routine. A father has voiced his concerns over the health and safety implications of a policy that could leave children in soiled clothing until a parent arrives, especially as his son, who is currently being potty trained, is still prone to accidents.

He said: "It is obviously a parent's responsibility to potty train but my view, if you look at the literature, is that children hit their milestones at different ages... we are still undecided whether to send our son to school nursery next term now."

The unnamed father has lodged a complaint with Dr Luisa Munro-Morris, Blaenau Gwent director of education, reports Wales Online. In response to the new policy, NAHT Cymru national secretary Laura Doel said: "We have had some school leaders reporting that an increasing number of children in school are not always hitting those key milestones before they arrive, including their self-care needs."

She added that school leaders have welcomed the intervention by Blaenau Gwent on this matter and are collaborating with the Local Authority to ensure children receive the necessary support. Doel emphasised the need for additional assistance, stating: "Of course, where children have additional needs, it is vital they and their families are provided with extra support they need from the appropriate agencies."

Dr Munro-Morris has informed parents about the upcoming changes in school policy: "From January 1 2025, if a child is attending nursery/school in a nappy or pull ups, parents will be expected to come in and change their child. The only exception to this policy will be for children who are in nappies/pull ups due to a medical need, which must be accompanied by a letter from a consultant."

A primary school has introduced a controversial new policy following an increase in the number of nursery and reception children not being potty-trained. This move comes after staff expressed concerns over the amount of time spent changing children, which they say is impacting the quality of teaching and learning.

Claire Armitstead, ASCL Cymru director, commented on the broader issue: "It is the case that young children sometimes do arrive at school without being potty-trained. There is anecdotal evidence that this issue has increased in recent years, and this is obviously a challenging situation."

She further stated: "ASCL Cymru would ask that greater support is given to families and children not only to support potty training but also the wider problems families are facing. While we cannot comment on circumstances at individual schools, it is the case that young children sometimes arrive at school without being potty-trained, and this is obviously a very challenging situation."

"It may be that such developmental delays are part of wider problems where families are struggling to cope, and there is anecdotal evidence that this is an issue which has increased in recent years. We do need there to be a greater focus on putting into place more support for families and young children."

"It is the case that young children sometimes do arrive at school without being potty-trained. There is anecdotal evidence that this issue has increased in recent years, and this is obviously a challenging situation."

When asked about the impact of the policy on parents, the council responded: "It is a parent/carer's responsibility to ensure their child is toilet trained. However based on data collection from schools on their experience of very high levels of pupils coming to school in nappies we have introduced this policy."

"The policy states that parents will be expected to go to school to change their child's nappies/pull ups. The policy does not apply where there is a recognised medical need and appropriate evidence of this has been provided. Schools will continue to look to support parents/carers in relation to toilet training issues, and can signpost to help and advice."