Who is BU - School or DH

[Ownerofmultiplechimps]

Ds school have said must bring own drinks every day & cannot use cups/taps etc due to Covid restrictions. I forgot to put ds drink in his bag so he’s gone 8hrs without a drink (is fine, had a drink before & as soon as home). Ds did ask but teachers said no as above.

DH is furious, thinks they should not have said no or at least called me/us to drop off his water in a socially distant manner (bottle was in the fridge & I’ve been WFH in office all day so didn’t notice).

School response was just quoting instructions.

I think as a one off, my fault & no harm done just leave it but DH disagrees.

[Home42]

That’s very unreasonable of school. They should have asked you to bring in his bottle. 8hrs without a drink is not ok for a 7 year old.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

I’m with your DH! It’s appalling of the school to leave a child thirsty. So bloody pathetic, they could have called you at least to ask for a cup/ permission to give your child a cup. And no I don’t agree “schools have enough to do”, at the moment they really don’t!

[ECBC]

Gosh that’s shocking!! 7yo too. I would definitely complain

[WorraLiberty]

I must admit it's pretty piss poor that they don't have a few disposable cups for when this happens.

The weather's only going to get warmer and your son won't be the first or last child to forget.

[Zeusthemoose]

I'm with your DH. Not on to refuse a child a drink the whole day. Just ridiculous - they could have used a plastic cup which I'm sure they would have somewhere. People saying it's not a big deal. Imagine you went to work, felt really thirsty but no one would allow you a drink for 6 hrs! Totally out of order.

[HostaFireAndIce]

I'm a teacher and I'm with your DH really (only dependent on level of fury)

[NavyBerry]

The school is being absolutely ridiculous. I don't know about your place but it was boiling hot down here today. It would not kill them to offer water to one 7yo. I'd be furious as well. They are there to teach compassion to others and not being blind about a friend in need. So very stupid!

[Dangermouse80]

School is negligent. I would complain strongly.

[Iminaglasscaseofemotion]

I agree with your dh. Leaving a child 8 hours without a drink because their parents made a mistake is unacceptable. They could have phoned for someone to bring a bottle. I would be really angry actually.

[ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble]

I think it's a bit iffy that the school didn't give you a call so you could bring one in.

If we had them in I would've filled a disposable cup for him, give him a drink and threw it in the bin.

Tbh it's not the end of the world but no great either.


What I find really weird is that they won't allow children to refill. Surely they use the taps anyways to wash their hands?

[labyrinthloafer]

I would complain, school is BU and unkind.

[ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble]

Is he at breakfast and afterschool club? The school day is only 6 hours.

[ShyTown]

I agree with your DH. With the best will in world drinks will occasionally be forgotten and to deny a thirsty child a glass of water is just cruel. I’d definitely complain because they should have disposable cups available and they also could have called you to get you to drop off the drink. It’s shockingly awful.

[PlanDeRaccordement]

I also am with your DH on this. The school should at the very least have called. Properly, they should have some disposable cups or bottled water just in case. After 8hrs anyone will be dehydrated even on a cool summer day.

[Dinosaursdontgrowontrees]

I’m with your dh. To refuse a child water especially on a hot day is totally unacceptable.

[Davincitoad]

He won’t die. So much anger once again at schools. Teachers just passing on what they have been told.

[TheTeenageYears]

I would be putting in a very strongly worded complaint. They failed in their duty of care. Imagine if someone was being investigated by social services and they allowed their child to go without water for 8 hours through the day - that would definitely go against them.

That is a case of the school taking the rules/guidelines to the nth degree and in following one rule they neglecting another area of basic need.

[Fuebomba0]

Just give him a water bottle tomorrow, don’t see what’s all the fuss about

[BigChocFrenzy]

"cannot use cups/taps etc due to Covid restrictions."

Not being allowed to use taps is ridiculous

• a staff member could put on gloves if they are so terrified of touching a tap ffs, or use sanitiser

[BigChocFrenzy]

Behaviour of school and staff was ridiculous

[Soonbechrimbo]

Gosh that is terrible, poor kid! That is negligent of the school.

[BuffaloCauliflower]

I think it’s pretty awful to not let a child have a cup of water all day, they’re being pretty extreme and ridiculous in their guidelines as well. How are the children washing their hands if they’re not allowed to touch taps?

[AllTheUserNamesAreTaken]

I’d be pretty bloody cross is a school couldn’t think of a way to resolve the situation which didn’t involve denying my child a drink for 6/8 hours. Pubs serve drinks, restaurants can serve food, I’m damn certain schools can find a way to provide a thirsty child a drink of water

Yes of course parents are feckless, incompetent and lazy and schools have enough on their plate without wiping up after forgetful parents blah blah blah but they’re human and we all forget things occasionally. Even those who think they’re perfect

There’s a difference between forgetful and neglectful. The later is what the school were in this situation.

[Flyingagainstreason]

It’s just a bizarre rule. You can turn a tap on to wash your hands but you can’t turn a tap on to refill a bottle. Though I know this isn’t what happened.
Even worse if they couldn’t just give him a paper cup of water. Batshit
So yes I think you’re DH is right to be angry and I think it’s worth bringing up with the school

[Iminaglasscaseofemotion]

Teachers just passing on what they have been told.

If people are going to be left in charge of children, I would expect them to have a bit of common sense, not blindly follow rules to the point of negligence.