AIBU to ask if your primary school have banned water bottles in class

[crikeycrumbsblimey]

Just having a discussion with a friend whose primary age DD has been told they are not allowed their water bottle in class and it needs to stay in the locker. They have said water bottles are distracting. They only allow access at breaks.

Could anyone let me know if their school has adopted the same policy? They have told my friend that "most" primary schools are adopting the same policy but between us we can't find a single other school.

YABU - my school does not allow water bottles in class
YANBU - my school allows water bottles in class

Just wondering how common this is. Thanks

As for teachers drinking tea/coffee in the classroom, I was shocked when DD told me they did that at her school.Wait until break everyone!

I am on playground duty with my class every morning so don’t get a break (unless I am desperate for a wee and the head comes to watch my class for two minutes). I have a screw top flask in my classroom with tea in, otherwise I wouldn’t get a drink.

Tray out the way in my daughter's classroom. However she has hers on her desk as she has a medical condition that means drinking specific amounts of water during the day.

Why do you need a bottle in class?

Because studies have shown that when children are even mildly dehydrated they have a measurable decline in mental ability which affects their learning. Not only is good for their cognitive function, it's good for their overall health.

My son is yr 7 but his primary school banned drinks in the classroom in year 4 I think ( unless exceptionally hot),citing distraction, and disruption for the ban. Free access to water available at morning and afternoon break and lunch time.

They do not need to keep sucking on water all day
A child is not going to get 'mildly dehydrated' from not drinking for a couple of hours unless its very hot

@Redlocks28

As for teachers drinking tea/coffee in the classroom, I was shocked when DD told me they did that at her school.Wait until break everyone!

I am on playground duty with my class every morning so don’t get a break (unless I am desperate for a wee and the head comes to watch my class for two minutes). I have a screw top flask in my classroom with tea in, otherwise I wouldn’t get a drink.

Was about to say the same!

It's reasonable that they can go without water until their break times. Also if they are constantly sipping water is being knocked over , masks are removed for drinking etc.

@Hospedia

Why do you need a bottle in class?

Because studies have shown that when children are even mildly dehydrated they have a measurable decline in mental ability which affects their learning. Not only is good for their cognitive function, it's good for their overall health.

I struggle to believe that - we are always hearing about how generally unhealthy children are nowadays compared to, say, 40 years ago. I don't mean that's likely to be attributable to drinking too much water, of course, but water-drinking doesn't seem to be doing any obvious good.

And how would you get 'mildly dehydrated' between starting the school day and break? Surely that can't be more than a couple of hours at most without a drink? If they're getting dehydrated in that space of time, surely they need to drink more at breakfast.

In our classroom and that of the rest of our Primary we have the water bottles by the sink at the back of class which the children can access at any time.

Dd's school has them in a tray in the corner of the classroom. However dd has hers on her desk due to a medical issue.

As a governor it certainly isn't something I am aware of being brought in at schools where we are.

@Pinkflipflop85

Bottles in the classroom. Not allowed near desks. Set times when children have an opportunity to get a quick drink.

We are slightly more flexible in really hot weather.

This. Some children use needing a drink as an excuse for a break, or distraction. Also, invariably at least one a day gets spilt on someone else's work when left open on the desk.

Ours are kept in trays at the side of the classroom, and they can go and get a drink at break, or if there is a gap when ending one lesson and starting the next.

I've never known a primary school with lockers. We have pegs either in the corridor or classroom.

"Because studies have shown that when children are even mildly dehydrated they have a measurable decline in mental ability which affects their learning. Not only is good for their cognitive function, it's good for their overall health"

Those studies have largely been discredited as has brain gym.

@Russell19

I'm a teacher and in the morning my class put their bottles in a box by the sink and they can get a drink whenever they want apart from carpet teaching time (in Reception so only probably about 10/15 minutes 3x a day). The box also comes out at break time and snack time.

We have this system in key stage 1 and reception too.

Can access them during non teacher-led teaching sessions. Can be accessed when they are working independently but monitored to make sure specific children aren't just up and down all day.
Kept in a box near the sink. Not allowed in tables due to spills happening previously and work being spoilt.
Encouraged to drink before/after playtimes and lunch time.

As for teachers drinking tea/coffee in the classroom, I was shocked when DD told me they did that at her school.

Only in a lidded cup here, and mainly as a 15 minute break isn't long enough to get to staffroom, make drink and finish it.

Mind, I remember it being really common for teachers to have got drinks on their desks, in normal mugs, when I was growing up (70s/80s) as well as holding them in the playground. None used lifted cups or flasks then.

When my dd was in primary a couple of years ago, they were kept on a tray at the side of the room. Easily knocked over I imagine. In yr 6, possibly Yr 5 they were allowed them at their desks.

Would be lovely if our kids had a locker to put a water bottle in tbh, but no, water bottles aren't banned in the classroom. Primary kids have to take them to the lunch hall with them, otherwise they're kept in a tray on the side.

I work in a school and water bottles are kept at the back of the classroom. I've never refused someone wanting a drink although I may ask them to wait a minute if it's almost break time.

When they are on the table, they are a distraction.

Son's primary school has them on a bench at side of class - they have to ask for a drink. I'm in the camp that thi nks parents should ensure adequate fluids taken before school - then if drinks taken at breaks, dehydration should not be an issue. Obviously medical conditions, PE, very hot weather, need to be considered. Classes are for learning not getting up and down for drinks, or chewing/sucking on bottles. We didn't even think about it other than lunch "in my day". I was never sitting in class thinking I was thirsty or dehydrated - I was concentrating on my work 😇😂

Our school have always allowed it and encourage every child has one. If you forget, there is disposable cups for kids to use.

Dds have water bottles on their desks and as far as I can tell they are constantly being knocked off. Seems totally ott to me to have them there. Out of 3 dc, only one actually uses her bottle, the other two just empty and refill daily and take to school like some weird ritual.

We allow water bottles at the side of the room - not to be anywhere near desks in case of spillages.
Teachers often have a drink in an enclosed cup too. Normal mugs aren't allowed in the classroom or corridors.

I asked my children and my daughter in Yr 6 said they have them on the desk, she seems to have a very laid back teacher though with a high tolerance for fidgeting, slouching etc.
My son in Yr 4 said they are not allowed and have to wait until break and lunch.

@Redlocks28

As for teachers drinking tea/coffee in the classroom, I was shocked when DD told me they did that at her school.Wait until break everyone!

I am on playground duty with my class every morning so don’t get a break (unless I am desperate for a wee and the head comes to watch my class for two minutes). I have a screw top flask in my classroom with tea in, otherwise I wouldn’t get a drink.

I make my coffee in a thermos mug when I get into school - about 8am. The first time I get an actual break where I would be able to make a drink is at 12.30 when the children go for lunch. I teach all morning up to that time and just about have time for a toilet visit during our 10 minutes break time. Try teaching non stop for 3.5 hours without a drink. I’d lose my voice by the end of the week.

@Abraxan

As for teachers drinking tea/coffee in the classroom, I was shocked when DD told me they did that at her school.

Only in a lidded cup here, and mainly as a 15 minute break isn't long enough to get to staffroom, make drink and finish it.

Mind, I remember it being really common for teachers to have got drinks on their desks, in normal mugs, when I was growing up (70s/80s) as well as holding them in the playground. None used lifted cups or flasks then.

When I first started teaching, way back in 1989, the Head teacher used to come into assembly on a Monday morning still smoking his pipe 🤣🤣🤣

@ArblemarchTFruitbat

Slightly off topic but in my young day it was unheard of to have drinks in the classroom. You could get a drink of water at break or lunchtime. Why is it children nowadays need to have water bottles in the classroom?

I thought this too!