Schools toilet policy

[Farmersswife]

Looking for some outside views.
schools toilet policy is if they go in lesson they are held back at break / lunch for a few minutes. Children are year 1 DD is 5 & has wet herself in class due to not wanting to miss playtime alongside two wither children. A few parents are quite unhappy and are asking to take it up with the head. I’m a new parent and it’s a new school unsure if this is standard practice for most schools?

I think it's OTT to punish children for needing the loo during lesson time. I know that sometimes kids want the loo because they want to mess around but for the majority it's surely occasional and they come straight back.

It's not unreasonable to expect kids to use the toilet at break/lunch but after pretty much free access in Reception, I think it's extreme to expect them to only use the loo out of lessons. It takes time for them to remember to quickly go at break.

No i think that is extreme and if children are having accidents because of it then it is clearly not the right policy . They will learn that they need to go at break time but IMO 5 is too young to be able to take on that responsibility and planning.

I'd be speaking to the Head too. It's not OK

It’s a basic need to use a bathroom. I would not be happy with this.

I wouldn’t be happy as it’s going to cause further issues. The Eric charity have lots of info which would help parents to talk to the school
https://eric.org.uk/school-toilet-charter/

No it’s not normal. Ours are reminded to go at break time but are always allowed to go whenever they need to, because the alternative is that they wet themselves! They only have small bladders so can’t be expected to hold it for long. Also if they have their big drink with lunch then obviously they won’t need the loo until a bit later and ours don’t even get an afternoon break so that would mean what holding it until hometime? Unless it’s a typo an 15YO DD is in Y10 with the opportunity to go between lessons every 45-60 minutes then I don’t understand wtf they’re thinking and would definitely complain to the head.

I would not be happy at all. I believe in free access to toilets; it’s bad enough having to ask permission. This applies at all ages. I am
a secondary teacher and have never refused a child who needed the toilet.

So don't the teachers mind clearing up after the children of wet themselves?

This is a ridiculous policy for children so young. Increase everywhere

My god I thought this was going to be about secondary school!

Punishing 5 year olds for going to the toilet is batshit and is going to cause a lot of psychological problems for them imo.

That's quite harsh for year 1 tbh.

This is terrible. Complain to the school.

No not normal at such a young age.

The first point on the toilet charter linked to above is this:

Shouldn't be normal at any age imo.

Absolutely not normal, they shouldn't be getting around the law by applying sanctions for needing to wee.

My child has experienced the same at their school, often wet at the end of the day. Our schools rule is junior/ks2 children can’t go to the toilet in lesson time.
I think schools are getting out of hand with their ridiculous rules generally.

I don't believe this can be true.

Are you sure you haven't got the wrong end of the stick?

I thought you were going to say secondary age. At year 1 this is unreasonable. They should be reminded/encouraged to go at break and lunch, but they should be allowed to go at other times too. They’re still pretty young in yr1 and it’s still the first half-term too.

Toilet policies in schools are ridiculous this one is the worst I've ever heard. I'd raise with the head and if no joy the governors.

We're going to end up with a generation of adults with bowel and bladder issues the way things are going.

Totally unreasonable! As children get older, they can be reminded to go at break times, but this happens gradually and even then they might need to go in lesson time occasionally.

It’s cruel to do this to young children. Imagine if a parent was doing that at home? (No, Johnny, you’re only allowed to wee every three hours) Or if someone told you that was the policy in the office?

Horrible policy.

Children should always go before lunch (therefore handwashing), through lunchtime and breaks if they need to.

Then allowed if they need during the day. It's not hard to be aware if there's a pattern of mucking about rather than need.

How does that work in UKS2 if a girl has started her period?

You are rare and enlightened.

I bet you're also aware if anyone is abusing this

The policy is probably that any child who has not been during the lesson gets to go first at break if they need to go. Which is reasonable especially as the ones who haven't already been once or more will have greater need once break time arrives.

Speak to the school and clarify.

Just spotted that the OPs child goes out to play instead of going to the toilet at break.

You need to tell her if she needs to go at break, she needs to go.