To ask what you think to this school new rule?

Science told us that hydrated brains worked better

I have vivid memories of being thirsty throughout primary school

Most secondary schools already do this though …

How do you know? Let me guess … because they tell you so and they would never, ever lie … 🤣

Check about the new rule, but we never had any drinks outside of break/lunch at primary school and survived. What I find the worst part is limiting children to toilet use at only breaktimes! It is illegal to limit staff to toilet breaks at work yet they can impose this on children. I recall very clearly a teacher telling me no in class, I was about 5/6, and I wet myself and the evil hag claimed "it was a joke"! I was a kid and wouldn't know that and she was a temp who wanted the job, but never got it thankfully. The whole thing left me very upset and I never wet myself again and it was such a clear early memory no kid should go through. It needs to be illegal to restrict toilet use. What if a girl had a period start, someone had a bad stomach suddenly or throw up. I'd be complaining and getting that changed asap.😡

I can see both sides. I'd certainly have abused the ability to go and fill a water bottle up at will 😅

As far as denying water to stop toilet trips though, that can get in the bin. I remember my school trying to bring a 'no bathroom breaks during lessons' policy in. My parents told me unequivocally that if I needed the loo, I was to go to the loo and they'd deal with anyone at school who had an issue with it.

I don't think the 'policy' lasted a week. Absolutely ludicrous to dictate when someone can use a bathroom, child or otherwise.

Honestly, some children suck on them constantly. Some bring in Stanley cups bigger than a labrador (pretty sure it's water in there and I should know because it gets spilt left right and diddly).

Some children are asking to go to the loo 7/8 times a day (a TA keeping a log because there was scribble and poo on the walls is a waste of their time). It's madness. Not my class - I just cover PPA before anyone asks me why I don't sort the children out.

I agree with it, children survived for centuries drinking water on their 2 daily breaks in school.
Maybe include an afternoon 5 minutes drink break.

Neither are they stuck to them all day in class or asking constantly to go to the toilet 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm not being disingenuous at all.

If they can’t go 2 hours without a drink then there’s something really wrong. How about you teach them, and yourself, that we actually need to live by rules in life - these ones, and later, and forever. I bet my life they’re not stuck to a water bottle all evenings and all weekends at home. Funny that 😉🤷‍♀️

When I was at school it was a small carton of milk we got in the class before Thatcher the milk snatcher took it away.

Do kids really need constant access to water? How often do kids ask for water if they are playing in their room? I understand it feels like a big deal when they've had something and it gets taken away, like the milk, but they will survive until lunch.

I work in a one form entry school. In September 3 of the classes will have a TA for the morning. One for the afternoons. That’s not unusual across schools I know. The teacher can’t just magic up cover while they go to the toilet.

Parents would expect someone stand at the water fountain to disinfect it between uses!

Bless!

Firstly, check how true and the exact rules.
Secondly, I would say - as a Y2 teacher! - that constant requests for water and the toilet ruins the flow of a lesson or activity and causes no manner of disruptions, so it may not be a bad thing! Obviously on hot days it would be different, but on a regular autumn day, say, children don’t need to drink or use the toilet that much, illness/conditions excepted.

Another 90s kid who never had a water bottle in school lessons and managed to survive. From hearing first hand about the pressure over stretched school teachers are under, I’m not surprised this has been limited. Absent a medical need, I’m positive the children will be fine.

At school in the 80s/90s I didn't ever have a water bottle. Can't remember anyone having one. We had a drink at lunchtime but otherwise I guess we just didn't drink much 🤷‍♀️.

Edited to add, I've just remembered we had drinking fountains at primary. At secondary, I really can't remember. Did we drink after PE? I have no memory of doing so but it would seem crazy not to.

First, there are plenty of jobs where you can't have a drink whenever you fancy and you have to manage both your fluid intake and your loo breaks.

Second, school children aren't adults in the workforce. There is a reason there are adults in charge of them, and there are good reasons for putting rules in place about when and in what circumstances children at school can eat, use the toilet, etc.

You know very well nobody cares about your kids' toilet and drinking habits. You are being disingenuous.

But you're right that they haven't really warmed to you. I guess you'll never know why 🤷🏻.

The NHS website recommends that everyone (baring medical conditions and extremely hot weather obviously) should aim for 6-8 cups of liquid a day, water, tea, coffee etc all count.
Children could have two before school, one at break time, one at lunchtime and two - four after school before bed that’s plenty - there is no need to be slurping continuously throughout the day.

As a teacher, I’d never dare limit water or toilet trips. Children would cope, but it’s not worth the grief I’d get from parents.

Most kids manage their intake just fine, but some kids just permanently sup on their straws all day long. They’re usually the kids whose parents sneak squash into the bottles and if you dare to remind them of the rules, you have a parent complaining that their child can’t possibly drink water, so it’s best just to ignore it.

Th culture has changed and many children have no idea how to manage being slightly uncomfortable due to having every slight urge of hunger or thirst met instantly. You should see the size of the ‘healthy’ snack boxes they all cart about at break.

I don’t think it’s great, but ultimately it doesn’t affect my teaching, if I’m interesting enough they tend to hold their bladders until I’m finished talking.

Edited to add - and it’s usually not possible for me to nip to the loo until break or lunch. I’ve come very close to wetting myself - usually the first day after a holiday when my bladder has forgotten the schedule.

Wow this has really upset the mumsnet village. The petty insults are flowing. I have told my children if they need the toilet, they are to go and I have informed the school similarly. It has never been an issue for the kids or the school. Its a non topic as far as I'm concerned, I'm not really that sure why my children's toilet and drinking habits is such a problem for mumsnet.

Gosh just realised I went through the whole of my school career without carrying around a water bottle! How did I survive?

(Water fountains at break, drink at lunch)

I agree, worked in a school and most of them tipped it over their head! If they are genuinely thirsty of course they can help themselves to a drink!