To think a child should be allowed to

[devonsmummy]

Go to the toilet at school if they are busting and not be made to wait until break/ lunch time?
Since ds started in year 2 he's said they're only allowed to use the toilet at break & lunchtime.
they can go out of class to the water fountain if they're thirsty though.
Ds came home today saying he'd wet himself a bit as the teacher said he couldn't go to the toilet - even though he said he was desperate.
Would I be unreasonable to tell him to say he needs water next time , then go to the toilet instead?
Or should I speak to the teacher?

I had a science teacher once who went mad if you asked to go to the toilet. He said if you needed to go just go! He was the only one I had like it though.

They should be allowed to go IMO

It's hard to know what to do for the best really. As a teacher it is really annoying to return from breaktime, launch into a lesson, only to be interrupted by kids wanting to go to the toilet.

A lot of the time it can be a time-wasting/work avoidance tactic, but I do appreciate there are children who genuinely need to go in between breaktimes and may have difficulty holding it in.

Maybe a quiet word with the teacher would suffice just to make them aware.

it's difficult because children LOVE going out to the toilet and will go in droves and stay for ages if allowed to 'just go'it disrupts every lesson.

I work in year 2 and we remind the children to go at break times and lunchtime.

you do get to know the ones who can't hold it and those who can.

your better message would be to tell your child to go to the toilet at break time.

As teacher I often find it hard to wait till break or lunch time so I always let the kids go, within reason. You can usually tell if someone is genuine and I only ever let one child go at a time. A quick word with the teacher to say what happened might help.

Don't encourage your child to lie. If the teacher thinks he is at the water fountain, then the fire alarm goes off, it could cause major problems. It's not safe.

It may be the school's policy as opposed to the individual teacher's. My school's policy is to not let them go, but I think that's cruel so I do it anyway and just get told off for it.

My rule of thumb is that if they ask within 10 minutes of a break time I usually ask them if they really need it or can wait. If they say they're desperate then they go, but only one at a time. Some children wait until they have to start writing and suddenly need the toilet every lesson. I tend to ask them if they're feeling ok as they've been a lot of times. This serves as a good forum to actually find out if there is a problem, but mainly to let them know I've noted how frequently they're going if it is just an excuse to mess around.

My ds1 can't hold a wee in. Have spoken his teacher and he can go whenever he wants. He is in year 3 and had irritable bladder.

Glad to hear he can go when ever. I know some kids take advantage of needing to go when they don't, but a teacher should beble to tell the difference

Mum23kidz how should a teacher know?! I must have missed that day during my training...

I think they should be encouraged to go to the toilet at break and dinner, but if a child really is desperate they should be allowed to go but I can understand why teachers want to discourage it.

There is quite a difference between letti kids go whenever they want and letting kids wet themselves. I tend to ask them to wait 5 minutes. If they ask again or are clearly distressed I let them go. Seems to work ok.
I think no toilet trips at all in primary is overt harsh.

I had a science teacher once who went mad if you asked to go to the toilet. He said if you needed to go just go! He was the only one I had like it though

Wish mine was like this. Mine used to purposely run the taps only now do I realise what a shitty thing that was to do.