Total Approach to Special Toileting Needs

Published by Angela May for Total Hygiene in Education

The personal hygiene needs of the 1.75million children with special educational needs can be more appropriately met through developments in equipment and service….

 Latest statistics from the Department for Education demonstrate there are currently over 90,000 pupils in special schools- with and without statements; all of those children need to toilet- something we do on average eight times a day, according to leading disabled toileting solutions provider Total Hygiene.

 The company is uniquely positioned to help schools comply, providing a ‘one stop shop’ for advice, design, supply, installation and maintenance of all the equipment for appropriate toilets and hygiene rooms as detailed in DfE’s Building Bulletin 102.

 Total Hygiene’s range of equipment not only meets the core requirements of the Building Bulletin for both accessible toilet and hygiene room provision, but can go beyond, to deliver greater independence for the child (and potentially overcome any potential issues re intimate care) from simple grab rails through hoists and height adjustable basins to its Clos-o-Mat floor-mounted Palma Vita and height adjustable Lima Lifter ‘wash and dry’ toilets. A range of paediatric supports are also available to further ensure the child’s safety when toileting.

 Robin Tuffley, Total Hygiene marketing manager, explains, “The right to toilet in appropriate surroundings, in privacy and with dignity, can be regarded as a basic human right. To our mind, that encompasses the user and their carer, whether an adult or a child. Our equipment and supply options enable school managers to make effective decisions on how to improve their school toilets- and thus contribute to an improved environment for their pupils.”

 King James College in Bishop Auckland is one school which has taken advantage of using one expert source of supply.  The latter’s SENCO (Special education needs co-ordinator) observes, “Because of the physical difficulties some of our students have, we needed to undertake some adaptations to conventional toilet facilities. We have created a new room, with a height adjustable Clos-o-Mat, height adjustable basin and height adjustable changing table, all supplied by Total Hygiene. The students love it! We worked closely with a whole range of professionals the get the best advice, and provide the most flexible facilities that would meet the needs, and increase independence, of not only our current students, but those of the future.”