Blaenau Gwent’s new policy requires parents to change their child’s nappy at school, sparking widespread concern and backlash from families.
Blaenau Gwent: So, there’s been quite a stir over this new nappy changing policy in Blaenau Gwent. Apparently, the council decided that parents need to come to schools to change their kids if they’re still in nappies. Can you believe that?
It turns out the councillors didn’t even get a say in this decision. The education department just rolled it out without much input from anyone else. Only one councillor, Cllr Sue Edmunds, was consulted, and that’s it!
Parents got letters just before Christmas, telling them they’d have to start doing this from January 1. Many are feeling the pressure, especially those who work far from the schools. It’s not exactly easy to drop everything for a nappy change, right?
The council claims a lot of kids are showing up to school not potty trained, which is affecting teaching time. But here’s the kicker: this policy doesn’t apply if there’s a medical reason. So, if your kid has a valid reason, you’re off the hook.
But still, parents are pretty upset. They feel like they didn’t have enough time to prepare for this sudden change. And get this—no other local authority in Wales has a policy like this. It’s definitely raising eyebrows.
A spokesperson for the council said they consulted with some headteachers and health services, but it seems like many parents feel left out of the loop. It’s a tricky situation, and it looks like the council has some explaining to do.
