United Workers Union calls for more support as children arrive at school in nappies 

More and more children are arriving at school in nappies and without the skills to independently use the toilet, which is putting pressure on education assistants (EAs) to support them, something the United Workers Union has spoken out about. 

In some instances, up to a third of a kindergarten class are unable to go to the toilet by themselves, something which is impacting on the learning experience of the children and the time spend of EAs.

The union, which represents education assistants in school based settings as well as educators in early childhood spaces, is calling for more support for its members, and for kindergarten and pre-primary settings to be equipped with change tables and other resources to help members “cope with the influx.” 

“The union has been inundated this year by EAs calling to clarify what they’re expected to do in the classroom to support toileting,” the union’s public sector coordinator Lisa Judge said.

“We’re seeing an escalation from helping kids with occasional accidents to kids showing up at school with nappy bags packed and an expectation that they’re going to be changed and toileted at school.”

The number of children who do not have diagnosed additional needs but who still wore nappies has been growing for the past five years, she continued, a phenomenon that is forcing EAs to spend almost half their day in bathrooms instead of helping children to learn.

“We’re talking about kids who aren’t toilet trained,” Ms Judge said. “Kids who need hands-on toileting support, and some who can’t even use a toilet.”

As the union prepares to enter a review process with the West Australian Education Department on personal care in schools, it is seeking clearer standards for principals about what workers and parents should expect, and is calling on the Department to provide better infrastructure in schools for children in nappies, such as change tables and hoists, and more training for workers.

“Education assistants spend 420 minutes in the school every day — and we’ve got EAs reporting they’re spending 200 of those minutes in the bathrooms, toileting kids,” Ms Judge said. 

“Getting them on track early with their learning is really crucial, and they can’t do learning assistance if they’re in the bathroom.”

This piece was first covered by the West Australian. Access the original here.