To ask what you think to this school new rule?

I wouldn't mind the water restrictions, as long as they can still have a drink of unlimited size every 1.5-2 hours. The restrictions of toilet visits isn't on though.

My 12 year old has a strict drinking and toileting schedule which if he doesn't follow he wets the bed.

They can drink at break and lunch though. They can learn to drink more during those times? I don't ever remember having a drink inside the classroom. I don't particularly think not allowing children to drink is good, but having worked in schools, there are a lot of children who seem to get a drink for something to do, or stand there for absolutely ages drinking. Some schools are more lenient than others about how often they can access their water.

The 'one' being the poor parent who encourages their sprog to be a brat then wonders why they fail in the long run, of course that's the school's fault.

As long as there’s some common sense on hot days I’d say it’s fine.

When I set off for a long car journey, I certainly do not encourage my kid to sip water every minute, knowing they'd need the toilet frequently. Yet wow they survive with scheduled rest stops. I expect the same of them at school. Do people forget how large this world is, and that we as parents are supposed to be preparing them for it? Kids need to manage their water intake and toilet needs for a host of scenarios.

If a kid has medical reasons, most schools should be reasonable and exempt them.

I would imagine that the reverse is true, there will be constant interruptions to get water, go to the loo and they rarely will go alone, especially in High School, it's just another excuse for poor behaviour.

Perfectly sensible rule.

I'm a secondary teacher. Wouldn't be surprised if this is exactly the parent I'm thinking of- daughter is a rude, entitled PITA whose mum encourages this kind of attitude

Totally agree so I'll be joining you on the MN naughty step!

I am in my 20s, dragging your water bottles to each lesson at secondary was the 'done thing' but some teachers got so fed up they made you leave your water bottle outside the class room before lesson started. In hindsight, I don't think it was necessary to drink during every lesson.

I also don't think it was necessary at primary either, even when I was at primary in the 00s it was only water at breaks.

Ok, so if this is such a big issue…how frequently does your child drink water over a day at the weekend. I’m willing to bet it’s no more than this will result in.

This recent thing of kids constantly sipping water is really weird to be honest (I’m only 33 and have small kids but find it weird!). Mine have a glass of water any time when they are at home or out we take a water bottle but I have friends who are encouraging their kids to drink literally constantly. Why?! They can manage from break til lunch then til home time without a drink. Jesus I’m a nurse and I go 13 hours without a glass of water….!

I thought the science was we (ie an average adult) needs 2l of water a day, nearly all of which comes from our food. No way a young child needs to drink 3l of water.

In the hot sweaty weather we are having now you will need to drink more, and drinking cold water cools you down too.

IME drinking water all the time is pointless, it just goes straight through me and yet seems to make me more thirsty at the same time.

I would want to know what limit the school is suggesting before getting my knickers in a knot about it.

I'm 50 this year. No-one had a water bottle at school, neither did my brothers who were 6 years younger.

Drinking water is important if they're running around, but it's really not needed in the classroom environment. A drink at first break and lunch is fine.

It’s sensible. I visit lots of schools and they all try to manage it. It’s not as if they deprive the children and they all seem very happy with the routine.

At my DS primary school there was 2 toilets right by the classroom door. One boys and one girls. The kids could use but generally went in and out without hassle as could only be one in each at the time and they didn't have to go in corridors etc so not opportunity for messing about

As others have said it depends on how they are implementing it. No access to water for long periods of time, is not ok, but telling children they can’t go during the teacher input, or during assembly is perfectly fine and stops disruption. If anything it teaches children to manage their water intake.
It never ceases to amaze me how riled some people get about this. I once had a parent threaten me with governors/ Ofsted etc because I didn’t let them have a drink when they asked. Apparently their child having to sit through a 15 assembly without a drink was ‘against their human rights’, even though they were reminded to have a drink before they went and could have one as soon as they returned to class!

Exactly, I’m not sure why people are upset, most children would be fine drinking only at breaks.

This.

When I was at school you were only allowed your water bottle at lunchtime (and then it was never just water it was always squash or a carton of umbongo).

My year 6 DC said they pretend to need the toilet to get out of lessons when it’s boring

….We were all wandering round like dehydrated husks in the 1980s, without a water bottle attached to our side.

You got a drink at break (if the Tuck Shop was open), a glass a water with lunch (from a massive metal jug).. and that was your lot.

Are you being unreasonable to ask what we think of this school rule?

No, it's not unreasonable for you to ask.

But it seems odd that you're asking only about limiting drinking, and not about limiting bathroom trips, and that you're providing no specifics.

Yes.

I'm sure that no-one posting on this thread had a water bottle on their desk when they were at school. Yet here you are, alive and reasonably well educated.

So why the howls of IT'S NOT FAIR when your own kids are expected to get through a whole hour and a half without a drink? You managed it, so why can't they?