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Original poster

To ask what you think to this school new rule?

385 replies

Redsatin109 · 17/07/2025 19:35

Just heard from other parents that apparently they’ll be reducing the amount of water y2 and upwards can have next year. So limiting the amount of times they can access their water bottle. This is because they’re only allowed to go to the toilets at breaks/lunch and it’s to limit toileting accidents in the classroom.

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 19/07/2025 08:08

Vynalbob · 18/07/2025 22:09

https://theconversation.com/hydration-is-really-important-for-learning-how-much-do-kids-need-to-drink-231485

There's plenty of articles on it, this is one example.

Show quote history

If you read to the end you will find this “1The Health, Hydration, and Nutrition Science Department, Danone Research, Palaiseau, France, provided research funding and water for the study.”
In case anyone doesn’t know, Danone is a “French multinational food-products corporation headquartered in Paris, known for its fresh dairy products, bottled water, and specialized nutrition products. “

Nt23 · 19/07/2025 08:05

Another thing that irritates me as a class teacher (year 6) is the look on their faces when, after a 1 hour break with unlimited opportunities to refill their water bottles, they ask to leave the class to refill their bottles 30 seconds after they start of the afternoon session.

To many children in this day and age not getting their own way immediately is an act of injustice and this attitude shines through in their demands (and I use that word deliberately) around water bottles.

AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 19/07/2025 05:19

Barnum · 17/07/2025 19:54

If you worked in school, as I have, as a teaching assistant for over 20 years, you would understand the reason for this new rule . The constant interruptions that occur because of claims of needing a drink are absolutely unbelievable. It’s disruptive for everyone - the child wanting the drink, the teaching/ support staff and very often the rest of the class as someone ( or even multiple children) is getting up and wandering around the classroom etc. I have been teaching small groups of children where on some occasions as many as 60% leave what you’re doing in order to fetch a water bottle & drink. By Year 2 they should be able to manage the gaps between periods which are considered to be learning times without being desperately in need of water, unless of course there is a clear medical need.

Exactly. I don't advocate Draconian measures as a rule, but I have broadly 'good kids' and water bottles are still a major distraction, as are loo breaks.

There is a huge correlation between the children who can't sit still, who need go to the toilet every lesson and who ask to fill up their bottles regularly. It's almost funny that I can't recall any of the top performing children in my class EVER going to the loo or being up to get a drink.

I don't allow refills in lessons; I will allow a drink. I restrict toilets and getting up to drink during the teaching time (except for children with medical conditions). During independent work I'm more relaxed about it.

ScruffyTrouserMindFlip · 18/07/2025 23:27

Me too! Although was talking with a friend today, reminiscing of our school days, and I did used to suffer from chronic headaches 😅They are much better now that I'm not constantly dehydrated 🤦‍♀️

cramptramp · 18/07/2025 22:43

Seems sensible to me.

Nt23 · 18/07/2025 22:39

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Teddybear23 · 18/07/2025 22:36

I remember we never had such things as water bottles when I was at school and we survived perfectly well. I think nowadays there is an obsession about people having water bottles on them all the time when it’s really not needed.

iseethembloom · 18/07/2025 22:26

Vynalbob · 18/07/2025 22:09

https://theconversation.com/hydration-is-really-important-for-learning-how-much-do-kids-need-to-drink-231485

There's plenty of articles on it, this is one example.

Show quote history

’Hydration’ is ‘really important’ says esteemed, peer-reviewed, empirical, evidence-based unheard-of website, ‘The Conversation’. 🤣🤣🤣

Quite apart from the small matter that the views expressed are opinion got up as fact.

Toptops · 18/07/2025 21:46

cyvguhb · 17/07/2025 19:39

When I was at school drinking during lessons was unheard of, have bodies changed so much that they now can't survive ?

This!

CurlewKate · 18/07/2025 21:16

Has anyone come up with any science yet?

iseethembloom · 18/07/2025 21:11

Vynalbob · 18/07/2025 18:11

It is ridiculous!
Sorry to say but regarding drinks during the day a lot of schools have the most stupid rules. There are two facts

  1. People (Inc kids) in the UK tend to not drink enough from a health perspective.
  2. Most kids only go to school toilets when they have to....for many reasons.
They should be encouraging the drinking of anything....at a push still drinks but there should not be rationing as standard (ok it someone repeatedly knocks it over then adjustments can be made). We're getting hotter yet the school's waste time policing drinks.

As a parent, as a TA, as a reading helper I am not abiding by rules that promote dehydration.

Sorry...pet hate

Do you know what dehydration is?

A person running a marathon on a warm summery or autumn day, while sweating a lot - esp on uphill sections - and grabbing a small plastic cup of water only every five or six miles at a water station… this is an example of someone who’d be a bit dehydrated after a few hours.

Guess what? It causes no health issues. The runner would simply have a longer drink at the end of the race and all would again be well.

Little Isabella and Milo - who are not doing strenuous exercise and who in any case had a drink an hour ago - are not dehydrated.

FrippEnos · 18/07/2025 21:02

Redsatin109 · 17/07/2025 19:39

That’s what I thought. That’s why I said apparently. But a number of parents of DD class (going into y2 in September) have said it

Show quote history

So its hearsay and not been said by the school at all.

Maybe ask the school if its true.

MyUmberSeal · 18/07/2025 20:22

Pricelessadvice · 17/07/2025 19:37

Years ago we were only allowed a drink at break and lunch. We all survived.
I’m not sure why kids have to permanently be attached to a water bottle nowadays.

This.

GlitteryRainbow · 18/07/2025 20:21

We only drank at break and lunch, no water bottles. We survived. I’m sure most kids can unless they have a specific medical condition meaning they need to drink more often. It got hot in those days too.

Bringmeahigherlove · 18/07/2025 20:19

Vynalbob · 18/07/2025 18:11

It is ridiculous!
Sorry to say but regarding drinks during the day a lot of schools have the most stupid rules. There are two facts

  1. People (Inc kids) in the UK tend to not drink enough from a health perspective.
  2. Most kids only go to school toilets when they have to....for many reasons.
They should be encouraging the drinking of anything....at a push still drinks but there should not be rationing as standard (ok it someone repeatedly knocks it over then adjustments can be made). We're getting hotter yet the school's waste time policing drinks.

As a parent, as a TA, as a reading helper I am not abiding by rules that promote dehydration.

Sorry...pet hate

Your facts are not actually facts.

sophistitroll · 18/07/2025 19:42

Nt23 · 18/07/2025 18:44

Nobody in this country gets dehydrated in an hour and a half in November.
People saying they do is one of my pet hates - sorry.

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I totally agree. I’d argue nobody who drinks at break time gets dehydrated in the hour and a half before their next drink

sophistitroll · 18/07/2025 19:40

perfectly sensible. They get a break every couple of hours. No child is going to get dehydrated in that time and I imagine it’s a royal pain in the bum for the teachers as inevitably as soon as one child needs the toilet or drink half the class decide they need to too

Nt23 · 18/07/2025 19:29

Vynalbob · 18/07/2025 18:52

What about tepid water on a hot day in June or July .

And Monday to Friday week in week out does cause dehydration problems (not rushing off 999 problems but long term).

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The children at my school have complete access to water taps at playtime and lunchtime to refill their water bottles with fresh water.

During heat waves we allow the children have their water bottles on their tables.

This still isn't enough for some parents.

Pricelessadvice · 18/07/2025 19:24

HerNeighbourTotoro · 18/07/2025 16:59

Years ago women could not vote and child mortality was much higher and there were no vaccines, but somehow many people survived. Should we revert back to Victorian era or earlier because of that?

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Oh don’t be so dramatic. Thats totally irrelevant.

CurlewKate · 18/07/2025 18:59

Vynalbob · 18/07/2025 18:52

What about tepid water on a hot day in June or July .

And Monday to Friday week in week out does cause dehydration problems (not rushing off 999 problems but long term).

Show quote history

Evidence please.

CurlewKate · 18/07/2025 18:59

Can someone post some scientific studies showing the dangers of children not drinking water during lesson time? And a definition of dehydration would be good too.

Vynalbob · 18/07/2025 18:52

Nt23 · 18/07/2025 18:44

Nobody in this country gets dehydrated in an hour and a half in November.
People saying they do is one of my pet hates - sorry.

Show quote history

What about tepid water on a hot day in June or July .

And Monday to Friday week in week out does cause dehydration problems (not rushing off 999 problems but long term).

Brickiscool · 18/07/2025 18:47

Children don't need to drink all through every class. They will survive. It's bloody annoying. Our year ones and twos have their water in a box not on their desk. They are given loads of opportunities to drink water and go to the toilet but not continuous because other wise they ask for both every time they are bored with the learning.

It's not like a prison! And if someone was deemed to need an extra drink (coughing etc) they'd get one.