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Nappy Changing and Personal Care Policy

No child is excluded from participating in our setting who may, for any reason, not yet be toilet trained and who may still be wearing nappies or equivalent. We work with parents towards toilet training, unless there are medical or other developmental reasons why this may not be appropriate at the time. The setting SENDco will support staff and parents in putting together personal care plans where necessary.

We make necessary adjustments to our bathroom provision and hygiene practice in order to accommodate children who are not yet toilet trained. We see toilet training as a self-care skill that children have the opportunity to learn with the full support and non-judgemental concern of adults.

Procedures

Nappy Changing

All procedures around nappy changing will be unique to the individual child and their stage of development. It should only be carried out for children who are unable to use the toilet independently and it is critical that the setting works in partnership with the child’s primary carers.

• Key persons are responsible for ensuring that young children in their care who are in nappies or ‘pull-ups’ are checked and changed throughout the session.
• Young children should wear ‘pull ups’ or other types of trainer pants as soon as they are comfortable with this and their parents agree.
• Key persons undertake changing young children in their key groups; back up key persons (buddies) change them if the key person is absent.
• Changing areas are warm and safe spaces
• Each young child should bring their own nappies or ’pull ups’ and changing wipes if applicable.
• Gloves are always worn before changing starts and the areas are prepared.
• All staff are familiar with the hygiene procedures and carry these out when changing nappies.
• In addition, key persons ensure that nappy changing is relaxed and a time to promote attachment and independence in young children.
• Children are given the opportunity to practise their independence in self-care. This will be unique to the child depending on their age and stage of development.
• Children are encouraged to wash their hands after being changed
• Key persons do not make inappropriate comments about the contents of nappies or young children’s genitals
• Older children access the toilet when they have the need to and are encouraged to be independent.
• Nappies and ’pull ups’ are disposed of Cloth nappies, trainer pants and ordinary pants that have been wet or soiled are bagged for the parent to take home.
• NB If young children are left in wet or soiled nappies/’pull ups’ in the setting this may constitute neglect and will be a disciplinary matter. Settings have a ‘duty of care’ towards children’s personal needs.

Personal care

Personal care includes helping a child, for reasons of age, illness or disability, with eating or drinking, or in connection with toileting, washing, bathing and dressing. We recognise that young children will need varied levels of support with personal care depending on their age and stage of development. The intention for all children attending the setting is that they will become independent in their personal care.

• Key persons are responsible for planning for children’s personal care needs.
• Staff are given clear instructions in how to support children depending on their specific needs
• If a child has wet or soiled clothing:
  • staff support the child appropriately encouraging them to be as independent as possible in changing
  • staff make other staff aware that they are helping a child to change
  • staff follow appropriate hygiene procedures as outlined in the nappy changing section of this policy

Supporting Documents:

EYFS (2021)