Toddler Toilet Training help! (merged)

rio

I don't that they can legally insist on this, I'm sure that it is discrimination against the child if the offer the place only on the basis that they are potty trained. I would have a word with your Heath Visitor and see what she says. I know lots of children who went to playgroup at two and a half (my son included) and weren't potty trained. Sounds to me that they are trying to make life easier for themselves.

Cissi

I know they can't refuse a place on that basis after 3, but I'm not sure what the legal position would be before that since you're not guaranteed a place before 3 Like Rio said, it sounds like discrimination to me though.

My son started preschool at 2, and he didn't potty train until he turned 3 this summer. They had no problem with changing him (and it was done by one member of staff each time, usually the same one).

You may be able to insist that they take your child regardless, but I guess the trouble is that if they have a policy of actively discouraging non-potty-trained children from attending, you couldn't be sure that they'd change him when he needed it

amandada

They are not allowed to discriminate against a child still in nappies, no matter their age,as this comes under the realms of the Disability Discrimination Act.

However, if said nappy or pullup needs changed (which within a playgroup session should really only happen if there's something solid!) they're within their rights to contact you and ask you to come and do it!

troll35

Our playgroup has a policy which is more or less as amandada says. If a child has an accident or a dirty nappy, 2 members of staff have to change the child to ensure that there are no child protection issues (in this increasingly litigious (?spelling) society. This could then compromise the adults:child ratios in the rest of the setting for a short time. As most playgroups run on a non profit making basis it is usually not financially possible to have extra staff present on the off chance that a child may have an accident. Our playgroup does a mass toilet run midway through the morning which works well.
In practice our playgroup wouldn't turn a child away if they were still in nappies, or refuse to change a child if an accident occurred, though you do get the occasional child who will 'do the business' at the same time each day. If this creates an ongoing problem then we have in the past politely asked parents to come back in to change their child.

I would say have a good chat with the playgroup. They should be willing to support you in your potty training as long as you are honest with them. It's amazing how many parents say their child is potty trained when they aren't, leaving playgroup staff wondering if there are other problems.

Ishtar

My little one started playgroup today - she's 2 years and 9 months old - and although she's now potty trained, she wasn't when we first made enquiries in July. Although they were happy to take her, I got the impression that they would prefer her to be out of nappies and using the loo.

I'm not sure what the legal position is on this or whether they can refuse a child in nappies - I'm guessing this is down to the policy of each playgroup, rather than the law (but I could be wrong).

If you are in the middle of toilet training, then surely that's something the playgroup will help with? DD's playgroup were happy to help with this (although in the event we're OK) I mean, if your little one is halfway there, then they don't have to deal with changing nappies, just underpants and clothes if they need to - might be worth clarifying what they mean by 'dry', ie. whether this is simply 'out of nappies'.


D.

bumpybecky

you'd think as I'm about to have my third child start playgroup, that it would have occurred to me to ask, but no :rolleyes: dd3 starts playgroup on thursday and isn't in ANY way potty trained. We've been to taster sessions at PG, but it just didn't occur to me to ask about nappies. I'm hoping they're Ok about it I'll be happy to go and change her if needed, hopefully she'll not need it!

tee_pee_2

I hope one of you mums ( or dads) out there can advise me. I currently have my 2 1/2 yr old daughter at nursery 2 days a week while I am at work. She is 3 in Feb so today I went to the local school to apply to put her on their nursery list. I go on maternity leave in Dec so was hoping that her nursery would be from around the time she turned 3. But the school secretary told me today that they would offer her a place in September 08.

IS that right? I didn't like to question as she seemed so authoritive, but it seemed late

Cissi

Tee pee, I think again this depends on the policy of the individual nursery/preschool. The government funding only starts from the September after the child turns 3, but it's often possible to let them start earlier, at your own expense. My DS went to a local preschool from the age of 2 years 1 month - they accept children from the first term after their 2nd birthday. Several other preschools around here take them from 2 1/2, and the one that is attached to the local primary school starts in September after the 3rd birthday, like you describe.

It may be worth enquiring at a few other preschools in the area? There may be some run in church halls and similar venues?

As far as child care goes, I don't know how much help this would be though, since it's usually only a couple of 3-hour sessions a week, at least to start with

Cissi

About my last comment: I just re-read your post and realised that you're going on maternity leave - I missed that the first time, sorry! In that case it would be really great if you could find a preschool that would take her earlier. This was one reason why we let our DS start relatively early: I was due with #2 around 6 weeks later. It worked out great for us: he'd settled in before the baby arrived (so didn't feel that he was being "pushed out" for the new arrival), he enjoyed the social stimulation that I wasn't able to give him to the same degree as before since we were somewhat more housebound, and I got some time to bond with the baby. DS ended up going for 3 sessions each week, and loved it, as did I

Annabee

Its been a few years now since mine were at playgroup - but 2 members of staff to change a child's nappy? Is that the rule now - seems completely mad?

And what about childminders then (or nannies).