It is likely that most teachers will, at

some time, have at least one child in

their class who has a wetting or soiling

issue.

Children with continence issues may experience more

emotional problems and have lower self-esteem than children

without continence problems

Children who wet or soil may be at an increased risk of bullying

When parents and carers do not receive appropriate treatment

or support they can feel isolated, stressed and guilty. There is

often a negative impact on family life and relationships

Learn more about how to support these children and young

people with

resource has been produced with the support of

the Big Lottery Fund

Supporting CDP and ITT

Understand how children and young people develop and progress

Know how to make effective personalised provision for those they

teach

Be aware of current legal requirements, national policies and

guidance

Know when to draw on / refer to the expertise of colleagues

Know how to identify and support children and young people

whose progress, development or well-being is affected by changes

or difficulties in their personal circumstances

Session Objectives

Find out about continence problems in children and young people

Understand how continence problems can affect the well-being of

children and young people

Understand how to support children and young people with

continence problems

Words for Urine or Urinate Wee

Wee-wee

Pass water

Piddle

Piss

Take a leak

Spend a penny

Whiz

Slash

Pee

Use the bathroom

Micky Bliss and Jimmy Riddle

(Cockney rhyming slang)

When we begin our lives we are all incontinent By the age of 4, all children are dry at night Bedwetting is a problem for very young children only Children have continence problems because they have not been

toilet trained properly Most children and adults find wetting and soiling problems hard to

talk about Wetting and soiling problems can affect children from all ethnic

backgrounds Bedwetting usually affects boys only One in 12 five to 16 years olds in the UK experience continence

problems Wetting and soiling problems can improve through treatment Drinking plenty of water is important (6-8 glasses of water-based

drinks spread throughout the day)

True or False?TRUE

FALSE

FALSE

FALSE

TRUE

TRUE

FALSE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

Jack and Paddy’s story

Link http://www.eric.org.uk/

Continence - The Facts

Continence is the ability to consciously control the discharge of

urine or a bowel movement

One in 12 (about 750,000) five to 16 year olds in the UK

experience continence problems; bedwetting, daytime

wetting, constipation or soiling

Most children gain night-time and daytime bowel control and

night-time dryness by 3-4 years of age

Children with special needs often take longer

Continence - The Facts

Bedwetting – Nocturnal Enuresis

Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) is generally defined by health

professionals as an involuntary voiding of urine during sleep, with

a severity of at least twice a week, in children over 5 years of age

3 main reasons:

Child unable to wake

Child makes a lot of urine

Child has an overactive bladder

Continence - The Facts

Daytime Wetting

Daytime wetting is the term used for children over the age of

five who regularly (more than once a week) wet their pants

during the day.

Possible causes

In younger children it may be linked to change in routine

For all ages, overactive bladder or UTI (urinary tract

infection)

Caffeinated drinks can stimulate the kidneys to produce

more urine or irritate the bladder

Continence - The FactsSoiling and Constipation

Soiling is involuntarily doing a poo (fluid, semi-solid or a solid

stool) into clothing rather than the toilet. It is more common in

boys than girls.

Reasons

Chronic constipation (most common)

Blocked bowel

The child is not yet toilet trained for stools (most often when

the child has a specific problem for example a learning

difficulty)

The Impact Missing out on things such as trips and sleepovers

Worries that friends and classmates might find out

Not knowing where to get help and support

Worries about being bullied or ridiculed by other young people

Tension at home with parents, carers and family

Feeling different from young people

Feeling isolated and alone

Feeling angry and frustrated

Low confidence and self-esteem

We should ensure that all children feel included, secure and valued We should be aware of children’s diverse needs in our school or

setting All pupils need to develop knowledge and skills for a healthy lifestyle We aim to promote the Every Child Matters outcomes to all children We consider ourselves a “healthy school” It’s important to reduce factors that make some children vulnerable

to bullying We want children to have good relationships with each other and

respect differences It’s our responsibility to promote all aspects of children’s well-being We have a role in providing support to parents and making sure they

get the help they need We should be building good links with other services that support

children and familiesWhat are the three most important factors in your setting?

Supporting these children

Supporting these children

Help and advice

ERIC – www.eric.org.uk

Effective, policy planning and management strategies:

Health and social care professionals:

Health visitor

GP

School nurse

Social Services

Supporting these childrenChildhood Wetting and Soiling: Information for parents and

carers A booklet with information on bedwetting, daytime wetting and

soiling, and the treatments that can help.

Nights away – no worries A short leaflet to help children who wet the bed and their

parents prepare for sleepovers and trips away.

Children’s Continence MattersPublished by Airedale PCT Continence Service A DVD and video that gives an insight into the difficulties that

bladder and bowel problems can cause children and families, and shows how professionals can help.

Why me? resource and DVD had been produced with the

support of the Big Lottery Funding

For more information about supporting children with

continence problems in your school or setting,

management advice and topic curriculum integration visit

see www.eric.org.uk/whyme/index.html?