PROVISION IN SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN WITH BOWEL AND BLADDER PROBLEMS

This House notes that an estimated 900,000 pupils in the UK aged between five and 19 suffer from bowel and bladder problems such as bedwetting, constipation and soiling; observes that a recent study by YouGov found that among children aged 11 to 16 who experience such conditions, 30 per cent said that they have had to take time off school, 25 per cent said that they have struggled to concentrate in lessons, 27 per cent said that their school does not understand their bladder or bowel problems and 17 per cent said that they have missed lessons; is concerned that 22 per cent of those pupils polled are only allowed to use the toilet during break time, 50 per cent rely on the discretion of the teacher to go to the toilet during lesson time, 40 per cent only use the toilet when desperate and 5 per cent avoid using school toilets altogether; is further concerned about the potential effect of this situation on the health, education and basic dignity of pupils; and urges Ministers to review policy and practice in this area, to issue updated guidance to schools on the appropriate management of continence issues and to provide the resources to ensure that such guidance can be fully implemented and monitored.