Knowing when to start toilet training and how to go about it can be daunting for parents, especially when a child has additional needs. It’s important for early years professionals to be able to support families appropriately, but also to have policies and procedures in place for their settings.
See our guidance on managing children's personal care and supporting self-care in Lambeth settings and schools (PDF 221KB)
ERIC has created a free potty training package to support and enable early years professionals to work together with families.
The package includes a toilet training policy, toilet training flowchart, healthy bladder and bowel assessment, toilet training record and many other user-friendly resources.
Toilet training courses
Our virtual toileting training course is run by ERIC and is free for early years professionals working in Lambeth.
The course looks at problems that can arise during toilet training and gives best practice advice on how to manage or overcome common childhood continence problems such as constipation, day time wetting and behavioural issues like fear of the toilet. The course also focuses on supporting children with additional needs.
Course sessions come as a pair so please ensure that you can do both dates before signing up. There are 50 spaces available on each course.
April sessions
- Healthy bowels and bladders - Wednesday 19 April, 9.30am to 1.00pm
- Supporting children with additional needs - Wednesday 26 April, 9.30am to 11.30am
May sessions
- Healthy bowels and bladders - Wednesday 10 May, 9.30am to 1.00pm
- Night time wetting and additional needs - Wednesday 17 May, 9.30am to 1.00pm
September sessions
- Healthy bowels and bladders - Monday 18 September, 9.30am to 1.00pm
- Supporting children with additional needs - Monday 25 September, 9.30am to 11.30am
To sign up to a course, please email eytraining@lambeth.gov.uk
Toilet training and children starting primary school
There are a high number of children starting primary school who are not toilet trained. It's important that schools are aware that they are not allowed to turn children away or delay admission due to continence difficulties.
Schools should work collaboratively with parents to address and support any child that may need toilet training so that less disruption is caused during the school day.
They should also ensure that staff are provided with clear guidance on how to deal with both toileting incidents and the rising number of continence problems, so that they know what is expected of them.
Bladder and Bowel UK and ERIC have teamed up to offer practical information for education settings on bladder and bowel issues, and toileting in schools.
Topics covered include:
- how to promote good bladder and bowel health in schools
- hygiene standards
- managing incontinence in schools
- national legislation for the UK
- safeguarding
- continence policy and care plans
Download managing bladder and bowel issues in nurseries, schools and colleges.
Information and support
Kathryn Shaw
Early Years Quality Improvement Team
Email: Kshaw2@lambeth.gov.uk
Phone: 07908 119 631
Catherine Pearson
Early Years SEN Team
Email: cpearson@lambeth.gov.uk
Phone: 020 7926 9966 or 07710 026 923