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.

[anothermansmother]

I'm with your DH on this. Leaving a 7 year old 8 hours on a warm day with no drink is ridiculous. OFSTED stars children should be allowed access to water when needed throughout the day...even during Covid.
They should have called you or just given him a disposable cup, it wasn't intentional or the child's fault.

[MolyHolyGuacamole]

@ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble

They failed in their duty of care.

What about the two parents that forgot to pack the drink, didn't realise all day or notice the water bottle in the fridge?

Pointless argument. Once a child is in the school's care, teachers are considered 'in loco parentis' and 'must behave as any reasonable parent would do in promoting the welfare and safety of children in their care' - Children Act 1989. School was negligent.

[Frazzled2207]

I'd be very cross if my child had specifically asked for a drink and been refused - seems very extreme but they could have called a parent if they really needed to.
If it was my son however he probably would have got on with his day and not asked or been bothered and the teachers probably would not have noticed he didn't have a drink! Fair play in that situation but still a daft - and potentially dangerous - rule in summer. Either way I'd be taking it up with the school.

[Doodar]

It’s not going to kill him, if he was desperate he could have had a drink from the taps in the toilets.

[FizzyGreenWater]

I'd be furious if my 7 year old had asked for water and been refused it and had no access to liquids all day. Absolutely furious.

Guess social distancing would have gone out of the window if he'd fainted and banged his bloody head because he was dehydrated eh?

I'd be making sure this was drawn to their attention and policy made clear.

[LannieDuck]

I'm completely with your DH on this - leaving a kid all day in hot weather without a drink is appalling. If they weren't prepared to give him water out of a tap, they should have called you.

[Frozenfrogs86]

They should have a back up plan of some paper cups that can be thrown away so no infection risk. It’s not okay to not give a child a drink in the middle of summer. I’m a teacher myself and would be surprised and cross if that happened.

[AnnaSW1]

I'd have wanted them to give me a call to bring a bottle in.

[Witchend]

Problem is, it depends on what your ds said.

"I've forgotten my water bottle" is very different from "I want a drink of water." To him they may feel the same but they're not to a listening teacher.

If he phrased it in such a way that they thought he'd left his water bottle in his bag, or wanted to have a glass of water because he prefers it, or he implies that he had a lunchtime drink then it puts a different matter on it than if he's clear that he has no drink.

[ComDummings]

I think it’s disgraceful of the school actually. In my son’s school they aren’t allowing bottles to be refilled in school as well but I would expect any child who forgot their bottle would be given a disposable cup at least. Or, as you say, they could have called one of you and asked you to drop a bottle in.

[Bumpette]

My school are saying kids need to bring in their own water bottle however a child in my class has forgotten twice now. Not great but I have just got her a cup of water, washed my hands and washed the cup. I understand the school may have been trying to make a point but I think it's a bit ridiculous and not on to leave a child without a drink all day. They should have at least called you.
I totally get why he restrictions are in place but i think people need to use their common sense a bit too.

[eddiemairswife]

I must be one of the millions of older people who never had a drink during the school day and managed to survive without getting distressed.

[Ohyesohyeah]

I'm a deputy head in a primary. A child had forgotten their bottle the other day so came to the office to ask. Usually have plastic cups but receptionist couldn't find any. I sent child back to class while we looked - no luck so I got them a mug from the staff room, took it to their classroom and apologised to them that it didn't hold much so they'd have to refill it. I would never have remembered that event if I'd not read this post, it was just a normal everyday event in school.

I know some teachers and head teachers are terrified of coronavirus. But they're bloody well little kids who are thirsty. Some people have completely lost sight of following a safety plan 'where possible'.

[BudgieHammockBananaSmuggler]

Yes they hadn’t invented water in ye olden days had they, @eddiemairswife.

School being completely ridiculous. And it’s not school bashing to discuss completely fair criticism. Hopefully it will prompt a revision in their policy if you make a complaint.

[IndecentFeminist]

I'm nearly 40 and we had water fountains easily accessible, and a drink with lunch. Pretty standard I'd have thought?

[Valenciaoranges]

I’m a teacher and I agree with your Dh. I would be pretty annoyed. If the staff go to a cafe, do they take their own cups etc??

[irisnotadaff]

That’s really crap, I’d certainly expect better than that! Poor little chap. Am with your DH on this one.

[ComDummings]

@IndecentFeminist

I'm nearly 40 and we had water fountains easily accessible, and a drink with lunch. Pretty standard I'd have thought?

At the moment some schools are not allowing pupils to use water fountains, presumably due to coronavirus worries.

[claireyjs]

School should have called you, only takes a moment

[Wingedharpy]

@Witchend : That was my thought too. Depends how 7 year old worded it really as he may not have conveyed the message to teachers et al that he didn't in fact, have a access to a drink at all.

Also, a very long time since I was at school, but could the "no refills from the tap" rule, be because the school don't want saliva coated tops of bottles, contaminating the tap outlet ready for the next individual to put their contaminated bottle under it?

[solidaritea]

I think as a one off, my fault & no harm done just leave it but DH disagrees. I disagree with both of you - your problem is with the policy itself, which means this won't be a "one off."

I would say both school and DH are BU, if he is "furious" - your son is fine and, as you say, no harm done. But school's policy is pretty dangerous really for reasons pointed out by others. So I would say it is worth following up on to make sure that this policy changes for next academic year.

[ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble]

@IndecentFeminist

I'm nearly 40 and we had water fountains easily accessible, and a drink with lunch. Pretty standard I'd have thought?

Water fountains aren't allowed and at OP 's school it's just packed lunches so no water provided with lunch either.

[JeffVaderneedsatray]

I'm with your DH
I work in a school. We've asked our kids to bring in a water bottle. We've suggested quite a large one to avoid too much refilling but they are able to refill.
We have a pile of disposable cups - if a child has no bottle I write their name on the cup and throw away at the end of the day. They can refill their own bottles in the classroom sink - I then wipe the taps as I do once handwashing has happened.
The world has gone totally mad!

[ToBBQorNotToBBQ]

If he wants to be angry it should be aimed at you. You messed up. Easily done though. Let him make sure your child has everything ready for school in future then if it happens again he can only blame himself. Not schools fault, they didnt pack his lunch.