Welsh Schools Ban Nappy Changes as Parents Called to Step In

A Welsh council has introduced a controversial new policy requiring parents to come into school to change their children’s nappies and soiled clothing, sparking debate among families and education leaders.

From January 2025, Blaenau Gwent schools will no longer change children’s nappies or pull-ups unless there is a documented medical need, citing the significant impact on teaching time.

“The high number of children in our nursery and reception classes who require changes has led to our staff spending a significant amount of time changing children, which is adversely impacting teaching and learning,” stated Dr Luisa Munro-Morris, Blaenau Gwent Director of Education.

The decision has faced criticism from parents, with one father considering withdrawing his three-year-old from nursery. “It is obviously a parent’s responsibility to potty train but my view, if you look at the literature, is that children hit their milestones at different ages,” he explained.

Laura Doel, NAHT Cymru National Secretary, acknowledged the growing challenge: “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.”

The council emphasised that support and guidance will remain available to families, including referrals to NHS resources and ERIC, The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity. 👶

The full text of the letter to parents outlining the policy change coming in next term:

Dear Parent/Guardian,
Re: Nappy/pull up changing in school
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to inform you about an important policy change that will be implemented across Blaenau Gwent schools from 1 st January 2025. From 1 st January 2025, if a child is attending nursery/school in a nappy or pull ups, parents will be expected to come in and change their child. The only exception to this policy will be for children who are in nappies/pull ups due to a medical need, which must be accompanied by a letter from a consultant. This letter will need to be shared with the school.
The reason for this policy change is due to the high number of children in our nursery and reception classes who require changes. This situation has led to our staff spending a significant amount of time changing children, which is adversely impacting teaching and learning. By implementing this policy, we aim to ensure that our staff can focus on educational activities and provide a better learning experience for all our children.
We understand that this change may require some adjustments, and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding. For support with toilet training please see How to potty train – NHS and www.eric.org.uk (Eric The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity, free helpline 08081699949).
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Luisa Munro-Morris
Blaenau Gwent Director of Education