To think any parent would be horrified to learn their DCs school hygiene practises are this poor?

[LittleMooMoo]

I have DC at a highly regarded after small school. They've all been off with various illnesses since they started back in the New Year- and this week I have another with a vomiting bug and diarrhoea.

My daughter was off for 2 weeks straight and the school were pressuring me to bring her in for attendance reasons- when she returned on her first day back she looked really bad. I asked if she'd managed to drink much ( as she looked very dehydrated) and she said she declined water because her beaker (school provides plastic drinking bottles for all) contained green water- when she told the class teacher she was told to swish it out and put fresh water in. My DD said it smelt disgusting and made her feel nauseated. The next day I let her take in her own bottle and a note and her bottle was confiscated

I asked the class teacher why and was told it was school policy and no bottles were allowed from home so that they could be sure parents weren't filling them with fizzy drinks

When I told her about the rancid water and questioned her about who cleans to bottles and at what frequency she told me that the class bottles get hot washed every fortnight

So in between there are assigned bottle monitors who swill out the water (clearly not very well as my DD'S bottle water was GREEN!)

I was told they just didn't have time to hot wash bottles every night which I think is disgusting and unsanitary- this was backed up by my doctor who said she'd be prepared to write to the school.

Any thoughts as to what I can do?

The head has already passed a message on saying it won't change and I cannot bring in fresh bottles from home.

Have your GP write then! It's ridiculous they're endangering the children's health with this. Bottles need to be washed after every use.

Idonthavewindows

It's insanity- there are currently 18 off from DS's class alone last week.

That’s awful! My children’s school let us take in our own bottles, mine all have metal bottles as they break the plastic ones but they are dishwashered at least twice a week and rinsed out properly in between.

What your school is proposing sounds down right dangerous, I’m not surprised your DD has been ill.

Would environmental health be interested?

youthecat
How would I contact them- can I report the school anonymously?

The school has form for bullying parents who speak out!

Yes you can report anonymously, I did. The school where I worked would sweep the dinner tables with the same broom that they used for outside.

Are the kids sharing the bottles in between these mythical hot washes?

Surely the simplest thing to do is say transparent colourless bottles only from home so they can see what the parents have put in them? Then no one is wasting any time in not washing them up?

auntfidget
I sent my dc in with clear bottles also telling them in my note that I'd welcome them checking the contents-
Nope, not accepted.

Highly sought after school, green water and bullying parents! Tell them where to stick there school!!

there are currently 18 off from DS's class alone last week.

I'd definitely either have the GP send a note or complain to the relevant authority.

I will take my GP up on the letter

But I don't think they will change

Gosh yes environmental health. I don't know how bothered I'd be about being anonymous either, you're not in the wrong and that's disgusting.

Why can't the kids just take their own empty bottles to be filled at school if they're that bothered?

I'd rather my dd had tango than pond water.

That's disgusting. Totally disgusting.

You're not really selling this highly regarded school to me.

Oh my god!

I've been made to feel like I'm an over bearing, previous mother!

I knew I shouldn't doubt myself.

They've specifically said to me we won't be changing it- we don't have time to hit wash bottles every day.

Perhaps I need that in writing

I’d be changing school. If they’re far too thick to see the problems & solutions here, they’re far too thick to be educating children.

Between disgusting hygiene and bullying parents is there a particularly pressing reason you can't change schools? It's sounds bloody awful.

Brings the phrase 'all fur coat and no knickers' to mind....

cornetti
I also suggested this (empty bottles filled at school) and was told "then parents will forget to bring bottles in and complain about that!"

facespalms*

I recently got told by my daughter that they all share cups at lunch. One lot goes in,drinks,puts it upside for the next child to have. I find this horrifying,especially when she told me her cup was full of backwash so she didn't have a drink. I think observing in schools might just be a real eye opener 😲

Germs are just spreading amongst the kiddies.that rank..send her own mug / cup in with her name on...so they can fill it with water ,but no one else will use it? That's all I can think of..utterly rediculous

I cannot move- waiting lists are huge/no spaces
3 kids.

This is awful. Contact environmental health. Also contact ofsted and report the practice, saying that what you have said here. It really is not acceptable.

I don't understand why schools got rid of water fountains - save all this carry on. It sounds outrageous

Normally I wouldn't suggest such an extreme measure but my child wouldn't be going back it's coming up to half term and I'd speak to the local authority and get a transfer arranged.

If they are like this about something so simple what about other things like checking criminal convictions, safety on school trips...this list goes on.

What about children with lower immunity?

I would be speaking to your local councillor, MP & newspaper you wouldn't give a pet green water let alone a child.

What makes it worse is it must be common practice throughout the school so not isolated to one idiot but a whole bloody school of them.