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.

Public health would probably be worth a shot, or talk to the school nurses

Cleaned once a fortnight??

Obviously not good enough.

Why do the kids have to have bottles though?

I remember my mum marching into my school to see my head. This was because I took a packed lunch in and was made to eat outside instead of in the hall.
A conversation later the policy had changed! (She is a formidable woman)
I feel like parents (myself included) sometimes feel helpless against the school. Don't give up OP!!

That's revolting!! No wonder infection is spreading like wild-fire- the germs from one child are spread to the next child if the bottles aren't even washed in hot washing up liquid!

I honestly would contact environmental health because it is seriously endangering the kids. What if one of them contracted meningitis and passed it on before being diagnosed? And what about kids with suppressed immune systems? Fizzy drink risks are nothing compared to the risks of dirty water.

The GP supporting letter sounds like a good idea.

Contact the school nursing team . They will sort this out for you OP. Hope your DD is much better .

I’d homeschool then. One thing is for sure, they wouldn’t be going back to that school. No way. Ofsted, MP, LA/DC, environmental health would all be contacted.

Jesus, no wonder all the kids are ill.

han01uk that’s completely unacceptable, get onto it.

Just seen your update, it is honestly not your problem if there's a huge list because they should manage the schools better then you wouldn't feel forced to do this.

Time to go in hard and not take no for an answer. Good luck us posted.

Or alternatively I'll come and get the head to drink the green water that's in my water butt see how they like it

Start talking to other parents and get a few people to go in and complain. It’s disgusting we would not accept this in a restaurant why do children have to put up with this it’s not on.

I had a feeling you were stuck there - sympathies.

Is there a parents group on Facebook or anything? You need group outrage really rather than a head whose able to pick people off individually.

yes to going in all guns blazing. look up complaints procedure & environmental health.

dc's school have a pitcher with tap water & plastic beakers. initials are written on each with sharpie. they go in the dishwasher every night.
admittedly it's a small class, but that's the least I would expect.

I would email the head and repeat that you think the bottles should be washed properly, kind of -after our conversation I still believe etc, if they respond with the same words used verbally then you have it in writing.

And YY to your GP writing to them.

No school nursing team

I think that’s appalling. Schools have dishwashers and the cups should be washed every day. So, the alternative is green water or no drink? Stupid.

Are they sharing bottles or is this your dd's school bottle?

I dont think if it's their individual one that it's that bad. I only rinse out the bottles mostly and refil. As it's fresh water that isnt left in there for days.
I guess the issue with schools is if they are emptying and properly cleaning over weekends and holidays.
I think if your kids are getting d&v and you are catching it's more likely a bug.
Clearly it being green water is wrong and that would have needed a good wash out. It may be that food etc from the mouth got in.
A lot of plastic bottles do start to go mouldy though.
Another issue with not cleaning well could be if the dc had an ear infection etc/chest infection/strep where they had AB then they could possibly reinfect themselves (as apparently you need to change toothbrushes.

I would change schools over that. Honestly. I would.

Write to the Governors and the local authority. Appalling, unhealthy practice. No wonder they're all passing germs back and forth!

I work as a TA in a primary school and the children all have their own school water bottles to drink from, to discourage unsuitable drinks from home being brought in.

I empty the bottles every Friday and sterilise the lids then refill Monday. I don't think the other class teachers or ta's do it though.

Get your gp to write that letter and ask them to report it to environmental health
We wash our nursery water bottles every day in the dishwasher

I would contact the food standards agency

www.food.gov.uk/enforcement

Food hygiene laws cannot be being followed here! No wonder so many children were off sick! I would report them and also ask your g.p to complain both to the school and the food standards agency. This is absolutely unacceptable! I would take all three children out and inform the school that your children will not be returning to school until they can assure you that food hygiene laws are being complied with.

There will be a public health officer for your area, the GP surgery should know who it is, they need to be informed, as do environmental health - you should find their number on your council website.

onwardsonwards

Perhaps you need to pipe down and read my post in more detail. After I'd seen my GP for the 5th time in 2 weeks-she was the one who offered to write a letter. She was so cross on my behalf.

Chill the fuck out onwards, reread the op, the doctor has already said she would write a letter.

No need to let rip at the op about NHS politics fgs.

I think if your kids are getting d&v and you are catching it's more likely a bug.

possibly. and this bug is spreading and re-infecting pupils and their families due to poor hygiene.

If it is a small school perhaps in a small area location the GP may be seeing quite a few of the pupils at the school. It might be a situation where the Environmental Health need to investigate

If you are in England, ask you GP to contact Public Health England, or do it yourself - may not get a response, but if you did, it would be good.
On top of the health route, I'd try the governing body first, then ofsted, then local media. Sounds grim. Sneak in and get a few photos of the green water first? Ew. Hope you get it sorted out.