Is not being allowed to go to the toilet during lessons the norm at secondary?

[User4648367373774]

Is it normal for most schools to do this? It is at my sons new secondary. Even if they really do need to go?

I totally get that it can be seen as disruptive, missing learning time etc. it's said that some children just go to the toilet for a mini break out of the lessons - tbf I remember doing that a few times myself! They never said no to kids going toilet that I can remember.

DS is autistic, he struggles with the feeling of needing to go, once he feels it he needs to go, he can't wait which is not ideal. We've tried to explain to him it's not always possible to go straight away...

the school have issued DS a toilet pass which sounds good, but DS told me today that his teacher would not let him go even with the card??

any child should be allowed to go I think, sen or not.

the school seems hot on ensuring kids drink but with that comes a lot of weeing.

at lunch they have no time as by the time they queue up for lunch and eat it's nearly over and back to class.

Heavy Periods?
UTI s ?
Kids starting to not drink enough which causes a vicious cycle of kidney infections?

I think it's appalling. What if you have a slightly dodgy stomach? A slipped sanitary pad, started your period? Stress based incontinence?

My friend's son's school introduced this rule and has had repeated bladder infections and wet himself in class. I just don't get why anybody would think this is okay for the sake of missing 5 minutes of a lesson. I can't concentrate when I need the loo anyway.

Thanks all. I can see both sides but a child needing to go toilet for whatever reason should definitely be allowed! I guess it's hard for teachers to tell though. Tough one 🤷‍♀️

absolutely!

This makes me so angry , of course kids will take advantage of free toilet usage but i bet the majority conform - i have i child left in school now ,she and her 2 siblings before her have always been told - be sensible but if you know you absolutely need to go then politely tell the teacher thats what you will be doing and go ,not happened yet.
Any problems with school arising from this i will deal with , no one has the right to stop another human being from using a toilet when they need to.

Is it? I bled all over my school trousers and seat when I was at school because they didn't let me go. They regretted their decision!

In primary the children usually stay in the one classroom. In secondary the children go to different classrooms at the end of each lesson. That is when they are supposed to go to the toilet, as well as breaks and lunch, pre and post school. Plenty of time. How would they cope on a coach journey, etc if they haven't learned how and when? Its the same for eating, they can't do that in lessons either.

As far as I know it's discouraged between lessons too as they have to move between quickly.

Yes, it is normal, and it saves huge amounts of disruption. There are students who take advantage of secondary timetables by asking to go in every lesson of the day. Many more understandably don't want to waste their social time at break and lunch and find it more efficient to go in the lessons either side. Students use the privacy of the cubicles to use their phones and to vape. I understand that the rule is concerning as a parent but you have to remember that your child is multiplied by thirty in the classroom and if even a third of the children ask to use the loo in a one-hour lesson that represents a huge amount of disruption to the lesson.

It is crucial however that toilet passes for medical and SEND needs are acknowledged by the teacher and you need to speak to the school to ensure this.

Yes, the norm, unless they have a medical condition, they should be able to last without a wee for a couple hours. I teach primary age (year 5) and never let them go during lessons.

Teachers also wait

Yes - I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve gone to the loo during a lesson, and they were all when I was heavily pregnant. I still had to wait for a colleague to walk past and ask them to supervise my class while I ducked out.

DD's primary school started in Y5 very gently to make them aware that they should learn to go during breaks and how disruptive constant coming and going is.

In secondary all but the student support toilets are closed during lesson time. Unfortunately toilets are a place for bullying and self-harm. The teachers are very good with passes though.

But - it is possible to also take precautions. Go during break/lunch or before PE. Change pads/tampons during breaks and use night ones or get good period pants. I do know that periods can be mayhem, been there, got the T-Shirt, and in extreme cases a pass should be issued.

Most adults are able to think ahead if they know they don't have access to toilets for 2 hours, teens can also learn this.

I was wondering about this. My DD started her first period this week and it is ridiculously heavy and is needing to change frequently. I told her to change once she arrives at school, morning break and lunch. I gave her a note today in case she needs to go put of lesson as it's a sudden, ok need to change and emailed the head of year to ask about their policy.
She replied saying it is an all female school (they have male teachers) so students can't have a toilet pass for periods which I accept for a light/moderate period is fine. THE HOY said she could quickly go at lesson changeover which DD is reluctant to do in case she gets a behaviour point for being late. I told her to show the note.
Seems harsh to me. Hopefully this will be a one off and if they continue like this then we'll see the GP.

I can’t comment on the current situation, but when I was at secondary school in the 80’s, the toilet situation was awful. They stunk of stale smoke, had no locks, no loo paper, no soap and the hand dryers didn’t work. Each year group had their own block for registration and you had to use the toilet in that block. However due to pupils smoking/vandalising in the loos, they were locked except for at lunch time so if you wanted to go at break time you had to go to the HOY for the key! I don’t know how they got away with it really, and I don’t know how I coped with it all back then. Then for a couple of years mid 80’s, there were dinner lady strikes so pupils weren’t permitted on the school premises at lunch time. You either went ‘down town’ or to the chippy, or went home. My house was a fast 15 minute walk away, but I went home every day. I recall once walking home with blood running down my legs due to leaking though non-wing sanitary towels in those days.

@Vinorosso74
Get your daughter some heavy/overnight period pants (we use Modibodi). DD has them and they last an 8 hour school day. I think we had one leak in the 3 years she uses them.

@reluctantbrit already ordered some and they're in transit. I didn't expect her first to be as heavy. I don't remember mine being so. Poor thing has had to change Always overnight at least every 2 hours.

Surely, unless there is medical reason, everyone should be able to manage 1 hour between toilet breaks.
Students can use the toilets before school, when.mocing between lessons, at break & at lunch time.

And of course they get enough time to go at lunchtime, it's not just queuing for & eating lunch.

I agree with you.