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(UK) "Up to a quarter of British children start school without being toilet-trained"

Jan 8, 2025, Daily Mail: Row over school's policy to leave children in dirty nappies until they are collected by parents in protest over number who aren't potty trained

Parents have blasted a school for their 'discriminatory' and 'unfair' policy to leave children in dirty nappies until their caregivers arrive to change them.  


The 'change your own child's nappy' rule comes into force this new 2025 term due to the amount of time staff spending changing children who aren't potty trained.


The measure was introduced throughout Blaenau Gwent, South Wales, due to the growing number of children in reception and nursery classes still being in nappies.


According to the NHS nine out of 10 children aged three were dry most days whilst the majority of four year olds were reliably dry during the day. 


Laura Doel, the National Association of Head Teachers Cymru National Secretary, said: 'This is not isolated to just nursery and reception pupils.


'We have members telling us that children as old as seven and eight, who have no additional learning needs or medical conditions, are struggling with toileting.


'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.


In another Daily Mail, also Jan 3rd:


Laura Doel, leader of the National Association of Headteachers Cymru, 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. . .


Research has shown that up to a quarter of British children start school without being toilet-trained.


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