Children not allowed to use the toilet in school

[JanetAndRoy]

My DSs are 8 and 5. Both came home from school today with soiled pants.
Apparently the boys are only allowed to use the toilets at lunch and break times because someone has been blocking the toilets and flooding them.
Also all the boys had to miss playtime earlier in the week because no one would admit to flooding the loos.

I am so angry that my children had to sit in pooey pants almost all afternoon. DS1 told his teacher he was desperate, but teacher still refused to let him go. Also annoyed that half the school are being punished for one boy's behaviour. (The girls are not restricted BTW)

AIBU to send a sharply worded email to the Head?

Also might CC in the SENCO as DS2 is being seen by the encopresis clinic.

I would also contact the lea, unacceptable. Why was the child so afraid to ask another time. When you are a chi,d you accept no is no, he had to soil himself as he has too afraid to ask again

I only asked once and was told no by the teacher, it would no have occurred to me to ask again as iwas afraid. I ended up soiling myself, I was 6/7

I have been mulling this over. In my 18 years in the job, I have helped countless children who have had toileting accidents. The vast majority are the under 5's who don't quite make it to the loo. Then there are others (including older children) who have tummy bugs etc.

I honestly can not recall a child in my care in KS2 who having asked to go to the loo, was told no, then messed themselves. Your poor dc. I am really concerned on your behalf. That a chid was too scared to ask a second time when they really needed to go suggests that the original request was turned down in a very forcible manner.

Don't let the matter drop OP.

Those of you saying that they should be able to wait until break time, that is not acceptable. Holding on to poo can cause some serious problems long-term. I, a healthy adult, would not be able to hang on for an hour, and suggesting that the school should subject a child to the discomfort and humiliation of having to wait that long is out of order.

The charity ERIC issue some guidelines for schools on appropriate toilet policies, OP. There is also the campaign "Bog Standard" - which encourages schools to provide open access to a hygienic and private toilet. You might want to point these guidelines out to your school.

www.bog-standard.org/adults_guidelines.aspx

As a parent, I would be furious. Don't let this drop.

You wouldn't dream of instructing a team of adults that they are only allowed to urinate/defecate at certain times of the day, so why should it be any different for children?

Actually lots of adult jobs don't allow you to use the toilet till your break times - retail and call centre work being one that spring to mind.

Anyway, i would be cross too. when i was at school they tried to implement this, but there just weren't enough toilets and too short a time at break for everyone to go. You would spend 20 min break queueing then have to go back to class before you'd got to go.

Quick update - I spoke with the deputy head today, and he basically admitted that the management had backed themselves in a corner. They threatened the children with only being able to use the loos under supervision if the vandalism continued... and the vandalism continued!
The policy/rules/sanctions have been relaxed this week and he was most apologetic about my DC.
I've sent him those Bog Standard links too ;)

I wet myself in year 1 bc my teacher wouldn't let me go. It was an hour after break and an hour before home time so no I couldn't hold it in! When my mum confronted the teacher she said she thought I was trying to escape the lesson. Stupid bitch