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Original poster

Three year olds unsupervised in toilets

80 replies

Yummymummy2020 · 24/02/2024 09:43

Just wondering, three year old (older end of three) is being left unsupervised in toilets at nursery. Had a few incidents of playing with water and getting soaked(other kids also the same in a group with no adult present) and also drinking from the toilet tap(as told by child) only found out today about the supposedly not supervised so will question on Monday but just not sure if this is the norm for this age or irresponsible? Also little girl in with little boys unsupervised and she said they told her to splash the water ect so feel a bit uneasy about the lack of supervision as obviously anything could go on. Going to work on her for not doing what others say as it’s an important lesson but also this is my first in nursery so not sure if I’m expecting too much by way of supervision! Thank you in advance for your opinions!

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fiddlemeg · 25/02/2024 10:58

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ilovebreadsauce · 25/02/2024 10:57

Yes!! It's about giving children independence when they are able!

fiddlemeg · 25/02/2024 10:57

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fiddlemeg · 25/02/2024 10:55

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fiddlemeg · 25/02/2024 10:54

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Mummyboy1 · 25/02/2024 08:43

Haven't read the whole thread but I work in a nursery, the preschool room (3 to 5 year olds) are down the corridor from the toilets, so whenever a child needs to go they obviously can't go with them. If staff see a child needs help or is being silly then we stop it/ help them. Also if a child has been a while then they'll check on them. Seems normal.

Heather37231 · 25/02/2024 08:40

New2024 · 25/02/2024 00:00

Once they get to school they will need to go and come back on their own, so on that level it’s good practice for them.

I don’t recall any water splashing incidents during our DCs nursery years. I’m certain if it had happened more than once that staff would have attempted to sort out any problems with kids messing about. As regards drinking from taps, usually children will only model what they have seen. Are they confusing rinsing after toothbrushing and drinking perhaps?

Edited

You should not rinse after toothbrushing, only spit out excess toothpaste. The idea is to leave a thin coating of fluoride in your teeth.

Original poster
Yummymummy2020 · 25/02/2024 08:30

Again thank you all for your input! Much appreciated! I think the thread is done for me now as I have plenty of useful info and opinions, thanks for taking the time to respond!

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Brumbies · 25/02/2024 08:29

Sirzy · 24/02/2024 09:48

Nurseries don’t have enough staff to have someone stood at the toilets all day! It is completely unrealistic to expect them to be constantly supervised.

I disagree, they should always be supervised! They're still very young.

Original poster
Yummymummy2020 · 25/02/2024 08:29

@Thefaceofboe I honestly never had an issue with anyone thinking it was unreasonable, or I wouldn’t have posted in AIBU. Happy to take all opinions on board and can see it’s considered fine for this age to be unsupervised🤷🏼‍♀️ Happy to accept I’m likely being over protective about the tap water and supervision if it’s not a done thing. Equally accept the uk has bathroom drinking water and other places do not, I was not aware of the uk being different till I was told this , I made the incorrect assumption that the uk was the same and so didn’t think it was relevant🤷🏼‍♀️

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Thefaceofboe · 25/02/2024 08:19

Also, huge drip feed about the unsafe drinking water after you were told you were unreasonable about the lack of supervision? Next thing oh I forgot to say the toilet tap water is unsafe…

I’d be very suprised if this is true.

Thefaceofboe · 25/02/2024 08:11

3 year olds going into a toilet unsupervised isn’t even remotely unusual in a pre-school settling. Some 3 year olds will be turning 4 and going to school this year

Original poster
Yummymummy2020 · 25/02/2024 07:53

@fiddlemeg so sorry clicked on your name instead of a previous user regarding my reply!

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Original poster
Yummymummy2020 · 25/02/2024 07:52

@fiddlemeg as I said before, im not sure it is flouting health and safety. I won’t explain why not again but I did in a previous post say why I don’t think it is. The uk is possibly different to here, but im pretty sure toilets here do not need to provide drinking water. Really though it’s not relevant in the sense my question was about supervision though and the fact the toilet water is not clean to drink and is, if it’s the truth being drank by some of the kids. Some really good answers and I will be taking those on board as I wasn’t sure what the norm was. I’m also aware the norm may differ in different places but generally mumsnet is similar to where we are!

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Original poster
Yummymummy2020 · 25/02/2024 07:46

@Itsthemostwonderfultimeoftheyear yes I totally agree and I will be asking a bit more on Monday and just clarifying that if asked in between if it is provided or not as I wouldn’t be happy either.

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Original poster
Yummymummy2020 · 25/02/2024 07:45

@Mama2many73 I figured myself if there is an issue with water and they are drinking it from the tap then there should be some supervision🤷🏼‍♀️

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Itsthemostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 25/02/2024 06:14

I’d be more concerned about only getting a drink at lunch time. Children should have free access to drinking water no wonder they are drinking from the toilet taps

CanOfGerms · 25/02/2024 06:03

For safeguarding purposes, you would need 2 adults to supervise if any. How would that work in reality?

fiddlemeg · 25/02/2024 06:01

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fiddlemeg · 25/02/2024 05:59

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Mama2many73 · 25/02/2024 01:08

Yummymummy2020 · 24/02/2024 17:31

@HelloMiss the nursery sent us all letters about it.

That would be a massive safe guarding issue in my eyes. Are you in the UK? Tap water , bathroom or kitchen, IS safe in the UK, if for some reason it realky isn't then children of that age SHOULD be supervised because they are roo young to understand the implications of drinking it.

I'd not be worried about being unsupervised as such, but definitely if the water is 'not safe' and I'd be asking nursery what is the issue and how are they safeguarding the children against it.

Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong · 25/02/2024 00:52

In my place we provide water at snack time in cups, some bring in their own bottles which is fine but if its juice we don't give it to them. They are not allowed use their bottles during normal time as they would only be rolled around or thrown, and water is not accessible to them all the time as their would be spilling and splashing etc.. however if anyone requests a drink of water we provide it immediately. I understand this is part of Dept standards but I'm not in UK so can't say for sure.

New2024 · 25/02/2024 00:00

Once they get to school they will need to go and come back on their own, so on that level it’s good practice for them.

I don’t recall any water splashing incidents during our DCs nursery years. I’m certain if it had happened more than once that staff would have attempted to sort out any problems with kids messing about. As regards drinking from taps, usually children will only model what they have seen. Are they confusing rinsing after toothbrushing and drinking perhaps?

Rycbar · 24/02/2024 23:45

43ontherocksporfavor · 24/02/2024 21:33

Chn in our primary mixed nursery and reception class go alone to the toilet but have to ask. We can’t supervise as staff ratio not enough (2 adults in a class of 15) but toilet is open to class and can hear any mischief. There are always some mischief makers that will splash or mess about but we know who to check on.

Edited

Exactly the same! If I’m in the middle of teaching Reception phonics and my TA is doing an activity with nursery - there literally isn’t anyone to go to the toilet to supervise them! We only go down with the new little.m nursery to check they’re okay and can do everything independently. Sometimes we’ll send a reception to help them open doors if needed!
even when I worked in private day nurseries and had more staff (and more children) we’d only periodically check the toilets and supervise when we were sending them all to wash hands in large groups!

zaffa · 24/02/2024 23:27

Yummymummy2020 · 24/02/2024 22:45

Yes drinking water is provided in little jugs, at least that is what I was told, I don’t think it’s on demand I think it’s only with lunch. We are not allowed send in drinks as apparently there was an issue with some parents sending in juice and fizzy drinks despite them asking for only water. So now they say bring nothing in.

I'd be far more concerned about this. DD has water freely available (now from a bottle with a little tap so they fill up themselves) - I'd be very upset at any restrictions on water during the day

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