Health visitors (HVs) and skill mix team members have an important role in supporting toilet training for all children and assisting school readiness – through both their universal, and targeted, work with families. Toilet training involves important skills that HVs can promote and discuss with families, regardless of the child’s ability.
iHV Resources
📃 Good Practice Points and Parent Tips
Developed in collaboration with topic experts, health visitors, and other professionals, our resources draw on the latest available evidence at the time of publication. Each resource is produced through a robust quality assurance process and peer reviewed to ensure accuracy, relevance, and strong alignment with health visiting practice.
19 June 2025 - Improving the lives of babies and children with SEND
Webinar recording including ‘Toilet Training in 4 Steps – A Toilet Skill Development Programme’
Spotlight Learn Workshops
🏷️ Cost: On enquiry
🕒 Duration: 2.5 Hours
👥 Suitable for: Health Visitors, Skill Mix and Multi-agency
External Resources
Starting Reception: The Potty Training Guide
A new national guide aimed to help parents potty train their children was launched by a coalition of early years experts and partner organisations (including the iHV) – and endorsed by both the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The coalition was established to review the evidence on best practice for toileting and in response to growing numbers of children starting school in nappies.
Best practice guidelines for professionals, supporting skill development for toilet training in all children, including those with learning disabilities and developmental differences: A consensus document
This resource not only offers a valuable overview of the latest evidence, research and clinical experience of leading national experts in the field of toileting and managing bladder and bowel issues, but also provides practical guidance on supporting all children, including those with disabilities and diagnosed conditions, with toilet training. The authors encourage all professionals to maintain high expectations for the ability of all children, including those with learning disabilities, to acquire the skills for toileting.
Bladder & Bowel UK: Child Information Library
Find advice on bladder and bowel issues in children, and general bladder and bowel health. This includes toilet training information for children with additional needs and disability.
ERIC: The Children's Bowel and Bladder Charity
ERIC provides a range of information and resources to help with potty training and children’s bowel and bladder conditions. Including constipation, and potty training children with additional needs including autism. Eric have created a video which can be shared with parents - Potty and Toilet Training - The three stages (National).
