to worry about incident in school toilet

[newnameneededforthis]

Have name changed as not sure if my details plus incident in school toilet would be identifiable....

My daughter is in year 4 at a local state junior school. She has slight developmental delay - I would consider her to be a little "vulnerable". Also due to many toilet accidents has permission to go during class at any time.

On Friday she said she had been in the toilets sometime in the afternoon after lunch and someone had written all over one of the toilet cubicle walls. IN POO. She told someone and the teachers closed the toilets so they could be cleaned. Girls were told to use the disabled toilet in the meantime. And in assembly the incident was spoken about to all the children who were told how unacceptable it was etc. They were also told that this was the second such incident like this - although the first incident had not previously been mentioned.

I thought (though I have not said anything) that such an act from a junior child is extreme and possibly there is a very disturbed child/person in the school going into the toilets to do this. I dont think it can be usual to use poo to write on walls

Or am I unenlightened and is this a common act of rebellion and I should not get overly bothered. Should I be worried about DD going into the toilets on her own for example? Would appreciate any views on whether the school should be doing anything more or if it is just one of those things that happen. (Am dreading secondary school if this goes on in primary).

[ChloeHandbag]

I appreciate your concern, but whilst I'd be appalled if any of my dc's did this I don't think it's an indicator of a disturbed child. I wouldn't worry, it sounds like the school are dealing with it (and probably know who it is) and it also sounds like your dd dealt with it very well.

[CMOTdibbler]

Alas, it is a reasonably common thing to happen. School will be dealing with it, and you and your DD shouldn't be worried

[wishingchair]

Agree with Chloe although I think it could be indicator of a child going through some significant problems. Can't see a link between the poo and them being dangerous though. Not sure the school does know who it is if they talked about it in assembly ... pretty sure all children know that writing in poo is unacceptable behaviour. Surely if they knew who it was they would have addressed that child directly and on their own?

[Sassybeast]

YANBU to have concerns and while I would assume that the school are doing all they can to find out who is responsible (or perhaps already know) this is NOT normal behaviour and given your daughters vulnerability, I would want to make sure that the school are providing adequate supervision for ALL children. I'd definately speak to DDs teacher.

[iheartdusty]

Agree with ChloeHandbag - it sounds horrible, but not frightening, and school is responding to it in what sound like a very appropriate way.

why does it make you worried for your DD?

[Rhubarb]

I second what others have said. Unfortunately it is a common incident, children just like playing with poo I'm afraid.
Esp younger ones.

The school are dealing with so I would leave it at that. Unlikely to happen in secondary tbh, they usually have managed to upgrade to marker pens by then.

[pofacedandproud]

[newnameneededforthis]

Thank you for all the quick replies. It sounds as though this sort of incident is more common than I thought

My concern was if it is not a normal type of behaviour then DD could be wandering alone into the toilets and it just gives me the creeps to think she would go in and be in there whilst someone is doing something like that.

I know it doesnt make sense I suppose.
I do get very protective of her and I dont want to overreact.

[titchy]

Blimey trefusis - but how did they know it was menstrual blood?

[Morloth]

Kids/people can be disgusting little snotbags without being disturbed.

We had a similar incident once in the office trefusis, huge very posh lawfirm, in incredibly expensive modern offices, we are all in suits (even mail staff) - and someone put poo on the walls in the bathroom, on the goddamn white marble. Seriously WTF?!

[Gracie123]

Wow, this happened at both my junior schools (about 200 miles apart, so not the same kid [and no it wasn't me])

Also at my senior school someone kept writing on the walls with used tampons. Pretty gross, but it happened several times throughout the time I was at the school.

I think it's fairly common, although I have no idea why.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

yes we have had this happen as well

school toilet with poo not work place (which is unbeleibale that grown ups do this )

[HuwEdwards]

The boys in our school jammed up the urinals with pens. Doesn't sound as horrible as writing with poo, but not a million miles away. Mucky little buggers.

[Peachy]

I can understand your worry and you know, it is something that can be associated with a child in need-

But most cases I have come across aelinked to SN rather than anything that should worry you. I would put money on it that A) school knows culprit (one of my own asd kids does this from time to time and you can smell it a mile off, no amount ofscrubbing shifts that) and B) that the child is known by the SENCO and is already getting help and not considered a risk.

[Sassybeast]

Peachy - if a child has an identified need, surely they should be having extra support and supervision in the toilet ? I don't buy the thinking that this is 'normal' behaviour and it's something that should be ignored. A child who has time to poo, collect said poo as ammo and smear it all over the walls is not then going to methodically wash their hands, wipe down their clothes and return to the classroom with a smile. It's an issue and therefore it needs to be addressed surely ?

Otherwise you end up with adults who smear bodily products on toilet walls ?

[nothingofthesort]

Blimey, you learn something new every day.

[Peachy]

Doesn't happen Sassy, only the kids who actually need physical help get that support- neither of mine do, partly becuase there'sphysical issues, and partly because a child with SN is lucky these days to get a shared TA, there's a massive gap for many between diagnosed needs at this level and adequate provision. heck ds1 injures people in the playground and can't get it, and ds3 is severely asd.... neither would get someone to watch them in the loo, only escort them there as part of a group.

[Peachy]

Anyway I didn't say ignore

Just don't worry

Massive difference

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

We had this happen in the men's loos at work a few years ago. Obviously more common than I thought.

[MoreCrackThanHarlem]

Am but also at some revelations on this thread.
Especially strong worded e mails circulating round law firms asking if whoever is wiping shit on the wall could bloody give over.

[meltedchocolate]

I dont know whether it is normal or not but the smell of poo lingers on whatever has touched it no matter how well it has been cleaned and eventually fades. The culprit should be easily identifiable (espesh now the teahcers will be looking out for it) If not it prob because the child already smells so perhaps has problems at home or something. I wouldnt worry too much. I have known it to happen before too (children not adults) Either the culprit will stop because of the warning / they will be found out / teachers already know of issues with child.

[ImSoNotTelling]

This happens at DH's work ALL THE TIME.

Also I just remembered a spate of it when I was in halls at uni.

Freaky.

Now I cant stop thinking about mr hankey, the christmas poo...