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.

[Walkaround]

It is definitely feasible that the school’s risk assessment says that children may only drink from bottles brought from home, it’s also possible it prohibits the refilling of the children’s bottles by any means (seems somewhat extreme), but it’s a poor risk assessment that doesn’t consider what to do when a child forgets to bring in their drinking bottle, and an appalling risk assessment if it states that it is prohibited to call the parents to inform them of the situation, so that a satisfactory resolution to the problem can be established! I know telephones can become contaminated, too, but honestly!!!

[Bluntness100]

As you said the original error was yours, you knew he needed a drink and left him without. However the school on seeing it should not have compounded this, and allowed him a drink or called you.

I don’t think there is any point in your husband being furious, a polite email saying your child was very thirsty and would have appreciated a call because you forgot and then also didn’t notice the error all day would have sufficed.

I guess though lesson learned for both you and your son. Who at seven is also able to remember and check.

[IndecentFeminist]

I was talking to Eddie Mair who was making a comment about never used to having water in school etc.

Obviously I know that water fountains etc aren't being used now. 🙄

[Mrskeats]

I'm a teacher.
I would have called home.

[CuppaZa]

The school should have called and asked you to drop a drink in.

[Allgirlskidsanddogs]

I understand school’s rules on this one but mistakes happen. School should have acted, given a drink in a disposable cup or rung you to bring a drink. 8 hours with no hydration is not acceptable. Keeping hydrated keeps the mucous membranes moist and so is a better barrier to infection. I would have thought that especially relevant to them ATM.

[ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble]

Have you talked to the school today OP?

[Wingedharpy]

@Ownerofmultiplechimps : Did DS school offer any explanation today?

[Andwoooshtheyweregone]

Im a teacher and I would have found water for your child. That’s appalling of the school.

[Stompythedinosaur]

Your dh is right, it's a failure of care to leave a 7yo with no drink for 8 hours.

[NailsNeedDoing]

I work in a school, we have been told we aren’t allowed cups to be available to children, nor are they allowed to use the water fountain. But more than once since children have come back to school under Covid rules, the inevitable has happened an children have forgotten their water bottles.

Obviously, as a normal human, I have still allowed children to have a drink of water! It’s awful that your school hasn’t, and I’m with your DH all the way. The rule makes sense, but as an occasional thing, I really can’t see how an adult (with washed hands!) getting a cup of water from the staff room, giving it to a child, and then taking it back to the dishwasher straight away is going to spread the virus. It wouldn’t occur to me say no to a child who needs a drink, even with all the rules.

[LST]

@AhNowTed I hope to God you don't work in a school with that attitude. A child going all day without a drink after they have asked is unacceptable

[Ownerofmultiplechimps]

Thank you for all your responses. I’m speaking with the head later & will be back to update this evening.

[Fruitsaladjelly]

And...

[AhNowTed]

@LST

Don't worry you're safe!

To be honest it was more the "furious" DH that got my back up. I just get fed up of the stream of school bashing threads, and angry parents expecting teachers to fill so many gaps in their own parenting, from sex education to money management and god knows what else.

That's not a reflection on the OP at all, but "furious" is a bit much.

[Iwalkinmyclothing]

I'd be a bit unimpressed tbh.

[Radioheadrestart]

School were jobsworths - but my view if teachers has reduced enormously since lockdown - they have been lazy as hell as far as our school are concerned..i'm now assuming that's their cultural default - can't, won't, don't!

[Radioheadrestart]

I'm pretty much never on the "parents side" of school threads weird approach...surely you are on the side of what's right for the child - to hell with the parent or the teacher - the child is what matters - it's their education, their life!

[myfavouritefudgecake]

@Radioheadrestart I think you know exactly what I mean and it's not a strange approach. I simply mean that I too often read threads where I find parents are being quite unreasonable with their outrage at schools.

I think your attitude towards a whole profession based on your limited experience is an odd approach too if I'm honest