To go to the toilet at work?

My child also has a bowel condition. She must go to the toilet when she needs to. You are important and your health comes before work. You need to have a chat with this person privately and explain that you have a bowel condition, so you do need the toilet more urgently than others do.

I would remind them that youve had bowel surgery due to severe endometriosis and while you feel that you manage this well with minimal impact on your career, you do need the reassurance that if necessary, you can access a toilet at short notice and feel this is a reasonable adjustment and are happy to speak to occupational health if it helps

If I interviewed you and you explained you had a gap on your CV due to having bowel surgery it wouldn't occur to me that it would have an effect on your toilet needs now.

I do of course know some people have a stoma after bowel surgery but I wouldn't think too much about it or be thinking hard about your personal medical details - I would assume that if you needed any accommodation you would ask for it.

So I think this could be a case of them not understanding - also they don't know what you are doing in the bathroom.

It seems strange, coming from an office background, for any workplace to be monitoring your toilet use but I guess that's the nature of being in charge of kids.

I'd explain first as it could be a simple case if not knowing, and then if they are not helpful speak to union rep.

It doesn't matter whether or not you left a child unsupervised. If you have it documented in your reasonable adjustments that you need a toilet break, then the management needs to arrange a cover. The issue is that you did not formally disclosed your condition and therefore, there was no OH assessment or RAs agreed. You need to make a request for OH either through your manager or directly through HR and go from there. Once your RAs are documented, you are protected. Right now, there isn't much you can do as you didn't make a formal disclosure of your disability.

I don’t think only mentioning it in your interview is enough. Do it properly so there’s no further issues.

I would request a meeting with SLT to discuss it before going to the union. Quite possibly they forgot what you said in the interview. If you remind them and it's still an issue, then yep, go to the union.

Things like this need to be organised properly as a reasonable adjustment

currently it just looks as though your randomly nipping off all the time

But yes, remind the head first in case they forgot

You are entitled to reasonable adjustments and to the basic dignity of a toilet as opposed to having to soil yourself in a pad. Not that I am suggesting that people who use a pad lack dignity of course. But you can use a toilet and should be able to.

Is your line manager aware of your condition? If not, they need to know and you need to raise this with them. Horrible thing to happen, I suspect the member of SLT had forgotten what was discussed at your interview.

Hi @Bornnotbourne, I work with someone with endometriosis. It’s such an awful condition. But hold your head high.

Please don’t worry. Under Disability Discrimination Act, your employer has to make reasonable adjustments. Seek advice from union rep.

IMHO schools are obsessed with both kids and adults going to the toilet. All very anal. It’s important for learning, not to mention health, kids drink plenty of water, but most of them come out of school savagely dehydrated because schools don’t encourage it as kids will need the toilet!

Of course workplace toilets are mandatory. That doesn't mean employees can always use them on demand unless they have medical issues. Plenty of people have explained that in general teaching staff can't just go to the toilet when they feel like it.

The fact you have bowel issues makes it worse, but she shouldn't be questioning anybody - that's why you health and safety at work mandate workplace toilets FFS. They're not there as ornaments.

I’d ask for a private meeting with the SLT and explain about your needs. They probably won’t have put two and two together, which is ridiculous but happens.

Tell her you’re embarrassed to have the conversation and this shouldn’t need to be spelled out. She has put you in a really tough spot.

Hi @Bornnotbourne others have given good advice so I won't add to it, but rather like @BitOutOfPractice I just wanted to send warm wishes. I had a huge endometrial cyst which attached itself to my ovary (it took 7 years for me to get the NHS to take it seriously) and I remember the pain. I hope you are feeling ok today despite the lack of sleep and that this work situation is swiftly and positively resolved 💐

The person knows you have a resected bowel (though they may have forgotten) but does not realise the practical consequences for you. No need for complaints and unions at this stage - just explain to them that your medical history means you need to visit the loo more frequently than before. If it’s still not over-frequently there shouldn’t be a problem.

I'm a TA and has come across different attitudes from teachers/SLT. I'm of the opinion that we are all adults with various needs, so ought to be able to use the toilet when required. However, I do realise that at times it's very tricky to leave the room.

We have children who HAVE to go when they need to and we let them go. This should extend to the adults too.

In my experience, occasionally some SLT (and sometimes school staff in general) forget that they are working with both children AND adults and can't differentiate between the two.

I left teaching years ago. It wasn't allowed when I was in the job. It's not the only job where you can't go to the toilet on demand. The OP however has the need for a reasonable adjustment.

Have they considered that treating staff sensibly may help with retention!

Have you read posts on here by parents complaining about teachers? There is a serious lack of respect towards teachers in this country and not just from SLT.

This is one of the reasons I stopped teaching.

I’d email them reminding them of your disclosure and agreed reasonable adjustments. So you have it in writing if anyone is being an idiot. Then I’d keep going to the toilet as agreed.

then if they pull you on it- union. No messing. Thry will back off you and move on to someone else.

as someone who doesn’t work in schools I think it’s completely ridiculous that adults are policed on when they can go to the toilet when all children’s supervision needs are covered. Have they considered that treating staff sensibly may help with retention!

How have we got to the stage where people can't have a basic human function met.

When did going to the toilet become "not allowed"

Hi op, Iv'e had my entire bowel removed and often go to the toilet to open bowels 6-8 times in a day. Im very quick and no one has pulled me up on this. Send an email to SLT explaining this so its documented. You disclosed this at interview and this should be a reasonable adjustment. After emailing I'd be v suprised if any further comments are made. Most likely the manager was not aware or is thoughtless.

How big is your school? Sorry but to me this is a strange set up. The head and deputy head and generally always around site (or at least one of them are) plus we have various other staff who take on senior roles if both should be absent.
Who's in charge of safeguarding? The way you talk it sounds like no one is ever available, so what would you do if you had an immediate concern with a child?

What kind of school are you in? As you keep mentioning ratios? I can be out on duty with the whole class of 30 on my own.

Why don't you have access to the building? What if you had an emergency and a child hurt themselves and you needed to get in.

There are a lot of issues from what you have said about this school.

I would look for another job. A lot of schools are really lovely places to work in. Some are not.