To ask the Minister of Education to detail any action being taken in partnership with the Minister of Health to provide early support for any parents who are struggling with teaching their children how to toilet themselves independently.

Department officials have engaged with pre-school leaders who advised that the issue of children starting pre-school unable to toilet themselves independently, primarily relates to children with medical or special educational needs and/or penultimate aged children. The draft Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy includes an action to, “make legislative changes, subject to consultation, to amend the age range for funded statutory pre-school provision, removing the current requirement to enrol children in their penultimate pre-school year.”

Consultation on the draft Strategy closed on 24 March 2026. My officials are now analysing responses received with a view to preparing the final Strategy, which I intend to bring forward for Executive approval in due course. Implementation of the actions will be subject to the required budget being made available by the Executive.

Early intervention across education and health services supports children to develop independence in toileting. The DE Sure Start programme, delivered in collaboration with DoH can signpost families to appropriate health related guidance and support. The Getting Ready to Learn Programme also promotes parental involvement in early learning, including the development of toileting skills.

Additionally, each pre-school setting has an allocated Health Visitor who can provide toileting advice, offer guidance to parents and where needed, targeted support. For school aged children, or children with physical or developmental needs, the School Nursing Service is available to provide support.