The following should be completed after reading the school’s policy and procedures for meeting children’s intimate care needs which can be found on the school website.
At Belmont it is expected that the vast majority of children will be able to use the toilet facilities available on entry to the school. That is to:
know when they need to go to the toilet;
know how to use the toilet by themselves;
be effective at cleaning themselves after using the toilet;
wash their hands independently after using the toilet.
However, the school also recognises that a small number of children may have failed to achieve full continence. These may be children in the Nursery or Reception who have not yet reached this stage of personal development, or children with a special educational or medical need. We also recognise that children may have an occasional need as a result of illness or emotional upheaval.
Children will not be excluded from normal pre-school or school activities solely because of incontinence. We aim to meet these needs of children in the same way as we would meet any other kind of individual need. All such issues are dealt with on an individual basis, with the school making reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of each child. We have a duty of care to make sure that children are healthy and safe.
General principles
It is the right of every child to be treated with sensitivity and respect.
Every child is allowed to exercise choice and encouraged to care for him/herself as far as possible.
The dignity of every child and right to confidentiality are respected.
Privacy appropriate to each child’s age and the situation is provided.
Children are encouraged to have a positive image of their own bodies.
There is recognition that toileting support can involve risks for both the child and any adults in attendance.
There is a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of all staff in dealing with the intimate care needs of children.
Some children may have the occasional toilet ‘accident’. We believe that leaving a child in soiled clothing for any length of time pending the arrival of the parent or carer is unacceptable and therefore will make arrangements to change the child unless it has been agreed otherwise. This duty is undertaken by a familiar adult i.e. the nursery nurse or welfare assistant. Clean spare clothing is kept in school for this purpose as are ‘baby’ wet wipes, nappy sacks etc. Parents and carers are asked to wash clothing lent to their child and return it to the school at their earliest convenience.
Some children may come to school with ongoing/specific physical or medical issues such as persistent urinary tract infections or soiling difficulties, or may not be fully toilet trained. If this is the case, a child’s parent or carer is asked to inform their child’s teacher, before the child starts school, so that appropriate arrangements can be made. The dignity of the child and right to privacy are respected: as much as can be kept confidential between child, school and parent or carer is kept confidential. We consider it very important that there is a positive dialogue between home and school about strategies in use with the child so that these can be reinforced by both, as appropriate. A signed agreement to the arrangements used in school is made with parents or carers if there are specific issues related to their child.
Some young children start wetting after they begin at school. This could be due to a variety of home/school factors including illness, anxiety, new siblings etc. If this occurs either the school or parents or carers should initiate an informal meeting to discuss the issue.
Adults dealing with the intimate care needs of children are employees of the school who have undergone DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) enhanced checking. Any adult who is not an employee of the school (e.g. a supply teacher or assistant) will not change a child except under the supervision of a member of school staff and must also have been fully DBS checked. Parents helping in their child’s class are asked to alert a member of staff if a child has ‘had an accident’. They must not deal with it themselves. Only female members of staff will be involved in supporting the intimate care needs of children other than day-to-day supervision.
All toileting incidents are recorded. This information includes the date and time, the name of the child, the adult(s) in attendance, the nature of the incident, the action taken and any concerns or issues. The parent or carer is informed on the day of the incident.
