Toilet training and school readiness in the news

It is estimated that one in four children in England and Wales are starting school not toilet trained. Now in one area of Wales, parents are being asked to come to school to change nappies. It’s a difficult situation for everyone involved and there are many reasons why this has occurred.

We’ve seen a deluge of coverage shaming parents for not adequately preparing their children, but these knee-jerk reactions miss a crucial point; when things go wrong, there are far fewer opportunities now for parents to get help.

Toilet training can be more difficult now than in previous generations, due to many social and economic factors affecting families.  A change in focus for health visiting and dwindling numbers means the profession has less capacity to provide help and guidance, contributing to the lack of support services and advice to help people who are experiencing problems. 

The knock-on effects of the pandemic and cuts to essential children’s services in recent years have contributed to this issue and, if not addressed soon, it could have serious implications for children’s health and education. 

Many children struggling with potty training do so because of an underlying bladder or bowel condition such as constipation, soiling or day-time wetting. Later potty training means these conditions go undetected and can lead to long term conditions needing specialist treatment. Bladder and bowel services are also feeling the pinch and there are many NHS trusts areas across the UK that do not have a service for children and young people.  Covid-19 further impacted it, with many services either being restricted or closed altogether.  

ERIC, The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity runs a helpline for families experiencing bladder and bowel issues. For the past few years we have seen an increase in calls to the helpline from parents whose children are due to start school but aren’t ready. Some are still in nappies or require a nappy to poo. 

Bladder and bowel issues may have wider implications for the family, being a source of stress affecting relationships and finances. 

Children affected by bowel and bladder issues need to be treated quickly, while the problems are still at an early stage, and before they become a lifelong burden. 

An integrated service is one that provides assessment and treatment for all functional bladder and bowel issues as well as interventions for delayed toilet training and provision of containment products to children who are clinically assessed as unable to achieve bladder or bowel control. 

It shouldn’t be left to charities like ours – or indeed schools – to pick up the pieces once the problem has become unmanageable. It would save the health service a lot of money – and families a lot of heartache – if children’s services and bladder and bowel provision was properly funded so that issues like these could be addressed sooner.  

ERIC is very keen to work with schools, local authorities and the health service to offer support, resources and information around toilet training to families who are struggling. But there’s only so much that can be done without adequate healthcare provision in place to back that up.

It’s time to stop blaming parents, ensure that local services have adequate resources to support toilet training, and a bladder and bowel provision in place to help those who experience problems – before it’s too late.

If you know of anyone who is struggling with toilet training, our helpline is here to offer support. The lines are very busy at the moment, but if you complete a web form, one of our continence experts will come back to you when they can: https://eric.org.uk/helpline-enquiry-form/