New Pupils 'Not Toilet Trained' Says Study

There has been an increase in the amount of children starting school before they go to the toilet alone, a study has found.

According to the survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), 62% of primary school staff in the UK noticed an increase in the number of children wetting or soiling themselves during the school day over the past five years.

This increased to 71% amongst those working specifically with three to five-year olds - those in the foundation stage in England and Wales and primary 1 in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The ATL survey spoke to 848 education staff working in state-funded, independent and academy primary schools in the UK during October and November 2011. Respondents felt that the main reason for the increase in the number of children wetting themselves at school was due to parents not toilet training their children before they start school.

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said: "Having to deal with increased numbers of pupils who have not yet been toilet-trained puts extra pressure on education staff when they already have enough pressure on them.

"Schools need to give staff clear guidance on how to deal with toileting accidents so that they know what they are allowed to do and who should be dealing with an incident. It is also important that education staff feel that have support from their school nurse or head, and that they know where to obtain guidance should they need it."

Jenny Perez, director of the Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC) – who were also involved in the study – said parents needing guidance on toilet training can contact them for information and support.

"Health visitors and school nurses also have a role to play, and ERIC provides expert training on childhood continence problems for health professionals across the UK."

The survey also found that some 38% of respondents stated their school has no written policy for dealing with childhood continence problems, while 35% stated their school had no written policy for dealing with childhood toileting accidents.

Meanwhile, 38% of schools said they do not provide written information to parents of school starters about ensuring their child is toilet-trained before starting school, while 36% said they do.

(DW)