Mixed sex toilets at primary school

[Redcups64]

From today the toilets at the primary school are now mixed sex. My daughter says she is uncomfortable with this and won’t be using them as there is a gap at the bottom and you can also stand on the toilet in the next cubicle and look over.

Is this even allowed? AIBU to think Surly mixed sex toilets should be floor to ceiling?

Is it a Covid bubble thing?

No, used to be boys and girls toilets, now anyone can use them.

They are contravening building regulations. Children over the age of 8 are entitled to single sex provision.

It will be a covid bubble thing. It means anyone can use the toilet closest to them without moving around the school.

@Pleasegodgotosleep

It will be a covid bubble thing. It means anyone can use the toilet closest to them without moving around the school.

In that case I’m sure they will be closely monitored as I absolutely wouldn’t trust children to behave appropriately in unsupervised mixed sex facilities.

Illegal. Ask for the equality impact assessment.

It’s not a Covid thing. The two doors are next to each other and the only two toilets for the kids in the school. Nothing to do with Covid or stopping children walking from one end to the other

Complain to the school, governors the lot.
Not acceptable.

Should they be floor to ceiling though?

Floor to ceiling with a sink contained in the space, I believe.

Some girls will be starting their periods at primary school and need a bit of privacy

womansplaceuk.org/mixed-sex-toilets-ins-chools/

Good detailed explanation here.

YANBU

I am a TA in a primary school. Our toilets will be mixed sex with one set of toilets per bubble ( we are lucky we have enough toilets to make this possible).We will only allow 2 in at a time and will supervise use. I worked during lockdown and we had no problems with this system. Sadly, schools can’t magic up floor to ceiling cubicles and have to work with what they have available whilst making sure that bubbles do not mix. I think she needs to let her teacher know that she is worried about this so that the teacher can reassure her. The next few weeks in school will be about getting used to new routines and making sure that the children are comfortable with them.

No acceptable for junior age children.
I would object politely linking to guidance.

I think there may be safety reasons for not having floor to ceiling cubicles for younger pupils.

There is certainly safety and dignity reasons for not having y6 boys sharing with y4 girls though...

I am a year 6 TA so know what it’s like to have girls in class who have started their periods. I was in during lockdown and the girls who it applied to in my class were absolutely fine with the new arrangements. It was discrete and they could let me know if they needed complete privacy without anyone else being in the toilet at the same time. The boys didn’t take any notice of the sanitary bins that had appeared in the cubicles and didn’t even mention them.

I am all for the floor to ceiling with self contained sink type and think they are great for anyone. I don't think the other type should be mixed sex at any age.

@cassgate I assume there were fewer children in school during lockdown in the first place so privacy was more feasible.
Girls shouldn't have to tell a staff member they have their period.
When my mum contacted my primary school (a long time ago!) to ask for sanitary bins in the girls' toilets they initially said to use the staff toilet when I had my period.

Any child is entitled to privacy in the toilet.

They have had to go mixed at my sons primary due to being in bubbles. The member of staff who usually works as their cover supervisor has the exciting job of sitting outside the toilets to make sure there is a one in and out system.

My child doesn’t have her period yet but could start at anytime. I don’t think it’s fair to let the teacher know, I would have died if my mum told my teachers when I was on my period every month! That’s embarrassing for someone so young.

Not acceptable at all, and I think not even legal. Speak to the head in the first instance then of necessary ask the school office for a copy of the complaints procedure op. It's so important that schools don't get away with this crap.

@TeenPlusTwenties

No acceptable for junior age children. I would object politely linking to guidance.

What do you suggest the school does about it. We usually have a girls toilet for year 3&4 and another for 5&6, same for boys. The girls 3/4 toilets are actually inside the year 4 classroom so year 3 have to go into the class to access them. The 5/6 girls toilets are inside the year 6 class so year 5 have to go in the class to access them. The year 3/4 boys toilet is just outside the year 3 class in the year 3 cloakroom and the year 5/6 boys toilet is just outside the year 6 class in the cloakroom. If we kept things as they were then the bubbles would be broken rendering them pointless and we would be breaking government Covid secure guidelines.

Sorry made a mistake there. Year 5/6 boys toilet is outside year 5 not 6. The new system we have set up means that each year group has there own toilet. Year 3 will use the toilets outside year 3, year 4 the toilets in their classroom., year 5 the toilets outside their classroom and year 6 the ones in the year 6 classroom. This means no crossing of bubbles.