Children Wetting Themselves at school!

prettypennies

I am a TA and have worked mainly in year one and two. It is very common for several children to have the odd accident in the first few months of year one. We also usually have one child each year who will have regular accidents throughout year one and into year two. It is less common for children to continue having regular accidents above year two, but it has been known (usually where there is an underlying medical condition).

Our policy is basically this:

If the child is capable and willing changing themselves, they would be given a pack of wipes, a change of clothes and a bag to put their wet clothes in. A TA would wait outside the toilet to retrieve the bag of wet clothing and we would have a quick word with the parent/carer at the end of the day.

If the child cannot change themselves, then two members of staff would help the child to clean up and change. (One to change and the other to bear witness) This would be the same if a child injured themselves somewhere that required the removal of clothing to check the injury.

If the child cannot change themselves and will not allow an adult to do it, the parent would be called to do it.

Where there is the likelihood of regular accidents, a quick chat with the teacher about how you would like the situation to be handled is the best way to go. The teacher/TA can then remind the child to go to the toilet regularly if needs be. A change of clothes, wipes etc. could be kept at school and the Teacher/TA can be advised as to whether you want want them to help your child change, them to change themselves or you to be called.

Hope this helps

bylromarha

OP-IT'S OKAY!!!!!

Perfectly normal.

I used to teach reception and there were always 1 or 2 that were still learning the signs of when they needed to go. And even more got engrossed in play, so they didn't realise they needed to go.

I can only think of 1 child in my 5 year career (pre my SAHM days) that still needed support going into year 1.

You have a dry bag on his peg, great. Will help him feel more comfy if and when he needs to change. Just keep on encouraging lots of tries. Maybe you could teach him some techniques like when the big hand is on the 12 and the 6 on the clock, then have a try, or every time you leave the carpet or things that sort his school routine.

We had loos in the classroom and when a child had an accident, staff would stand in the doorway to protect themselves child protection wise, but also would block the child from the view of their peers. The child was encouraged to undress themselves, use the wet wipes themselves and redress themselves to ensure no touching of genitals. the staff would verbally guide if needed.

For number 2s, which did happen (and one memorable child had a real problem with this and wouldn't tell anyone, so he often had it up his back where he'd been sitting in the stuff before someone smelt the accident) staff would do the same, guiding the child, but also don gloves and aprons to ensure child got clean. However, we would ring the parent to come and collect as there was only so much a wet wipe can do if it's spread over the skin beyond the bottom.

To try to prevent accidents, there was lots of reminding about going to the toilet, lots of "this group TRY on the toilets now please" and those kids always used to be part of the group. Lots of quiet words asking when last wees had happened and "maybe you should have another try", especially after play and lunch when drink had just gone in.

OP-all the best and if accidents keep happening, and the staff continue to be helpful and supportive, please make sure you thank classroom assistants. I always used to pass messages on from parents, but it made a big difference if the parents thanked the staff personally.

ailuro2

I know a little boy who goes to my DD's martial arts class, his parents have found if he has some types of juice he can't control himself, there has been a little accident in class before now, they are gradually learning that some juice is fine, while others are a no-no.

If it was me I think I'd be giving him plain water or milk to save him the trauma of keeping wee-ing, but that's just me. I don't think fruit shoots and Ribena are mandatory in kids' diets.

try watching what he is eating, give him non processed foods at the weekends and see if he's any better. Just because you suffered till you were in your teens doesn't mean he should have to - there might be something that will help.

JMW77

My son is still having problems at school ,still wet at least twice a week we have tried everything.The school he goes to has the opinion it is normal to be dry at 2 so i am not happy, i have read many other posts who say its common and it helps to feel i'm not on my own,but i left the school today feeling like they have had enough of him so i am dreading next week now.

milliebear00001

sarahs999 wrote: »

Teachers are there in lieu of parents and at a young age like this that may well involve some hygeine care. There's no way they can expect parents in this day and age to drop everything because a child has wet their pants - like nottslass I work miles away from home and would not be able to just drop everything and come in. Hurt themselves, yes. Wet pants? No. It's just common sense.

Teachers are there to teach. Who will be teaching the rest of the class while the teacher is changing the wet child?

gairlochgal

JMW77 wrote: »

My son is still having problems at school ,still wet at least twice a week we have tried everything.The school he goes to has the opinion it is normal to be dry at 2 so i am not happy, i have read many other posts who say its common and it helps to feel i'm not on my own,but i left the school today feeling like they have had enough of him so i am dreading next week now.

Presumably there's a chicken and egg problem here - if the school are unhappy they may be communicating it to your son, he gets stressed and worries about it etc. What does he tell you about when/why it happens?

One of mine had real problems at 5 (having been dry) and we took advice and ended up with very simple star chart solution. She earned stars for dry days and they added up to a sum of money we would go and spend on a Saturday. Sweets/comic/whatever.

I also think the state of the school loos is a real issue. Both my kids try to avoid using their school loos - little one is a bit more chilled but the big one now at secondary and she hates the loos there. Might be worth chatting with him about that too.

nottslass_2

milliebear00001 wrote: »

Teachers are there to teach. Who will be teaching the rest of the class while the teacher is changing the wet child?

I think that most class rooms have a TA,at the very least there would be another member of staff available to cover should it be necessary.

milliebear00001

nottslass wrote: »

I think that most class rooms have a TA,at the very least there would be another member of staff available to cover should it be necessary.

TAs have their own jobs, and cleaning up children is usually not something they are too delighted to do. In addition, at my school, we never allow staff to be alone when dealing with children unclothed (for their own protection, not the children's) and so would need two staff members to take time away from their usual job to change a child. Not all classrooms 'have a TA' - many do - esp. in Yr and Y1, but not all have them full-time. In these early years, the TAs usually have specific roles to play in assisting small groups or individual children while the teacher works with others.

Unfortunately, I have also worked in a school where the parent (at home, round the corner) was called to clean up their child, and finally arrived an hour later - by which time, some poor staff member had been called to see to the poor kid. Responsibility cuts both ways, and while schools will do their best to manage and help with children who wet or soil themsleves, it does have an impact on the rest of the class. It is not the school's fault if you work many miles away from home and can't get back to change your child either. Schools are for teaching and learning. We are not the same as a child-minding service.

nottslass_2

milliebear00001 wrote: »

TAs have their own jobs, and cleaning up children is usually not something they are too delighted to do. In addition, at my school, we never allow staff to be alone when dealing with children unclothed (for their own protection, not the children's) and so would need two staff members to take time away from their usual job to change a child. Not all classrooms 'have a TA' - many do - esp. in Yr and Y1, but not all have them full-time. In these early years, the TAs usually have specific roles to play in assisting small groups or individual children while the teacher works with others.

Unfortunately, I have also worked in a school where the parent (at home, round the corner) was called to clean up their child, and finally arrived an hour later - by which time, some poor staff member had been called to see to the poor kid. Responsibility cuts both ways, and while schools will do their best to manage and help with children who wet or soil themselves, it does have an impact on the rest of the class. It is not the school's fault if you work many miles away from home and can't get back to change your child either. Schools are for teaching and learning. We are not the same as a child-minding service.

I agree,but unfortunately its a fact of life that many parents have other commitments whilst their child is at school.

Unfortunately even if I didn't work,it would still take me a good 20 Min's to get to my child's school (I'm sure for many its even longer) and in my opinion it would be at the very least distressing and bordering on the inhumane to leave a child in wet clothes for this amount of time !!!

In any case the child would have to be supervised until the parents got there (thus involving a member of staff) - or perhaps the child should be made to sit in their chair in the middle of the classroom until mum / dad arrive !!!
Surely common sense says that It would be a lot quicker ,easier and less disruptive to spend approx 3 Min's helping a child to change than standing hopelessly around waiting for parents to arrive.

milliebear00001

nottslass wrote: »

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I agree,but unfortunately its a fact of life that many parents have other commitments whilst their child is at school.

Unfortunately even if I didn't work,it would still take me a good 20 Min's to get to my child's school (I'm sure for many its even longer) and in my opinion it would be at the very least distressing and bordering on the inhumane to leave a child in wet clothes for this amount of time !!!

In any case the child would have to be supervised until the parents got there (thus involving a member of staff) - or perhaps the child should be made to sit in their chair in the middle of the classroom until mum / dad arrive !!!
Surely common sense says that It would be a lot quicker ,easier and less disruptive to spend approx 3 Min's helping a child to change than standing hopelessly around waiting for parents to arrive.

And that is exactly what does happen in cases where parents are not available to change their child quickly. Unfortunately, the rest of the class suffers when it does.. A colleague of mine has four YR children this year who started in nappies. Can you imagine how disruptive that is for the children's learning? Schools and teachers are understandably frustrated by something that appears to be an increasing trend. Even ten years ago, it was unheard of for children to begin school in nappie, but there does seem to be a trend toward delaying potty training.