Three year olds unsupervised in toilets

[Yummymummy2020]

Just wondering, three year old (older end of three) is being left unsupervised in toilets at nursery. Had a few incidents of playing with water and getting soaked(other kids also the same in a group with no adult present) and also drinking from the toilet tap(as told by child) only found out today about the supposedly not supervised so will question on Monday but just not sure if this is the norm for this age or irresponsible? Also little girl in with little boys unsupervised and she said they told her to splash the water ect so feel a bit uneasy about the lack of supervision as obviously anything could go on. Going to work on her for not doing what others say as it’s an important lesson but also this is my first in nursery so not sure if I’m expecting too much by way of supervision! Thank you in advance for your opinions!

Ask them about their procedures

Nurseries don’t have enough staff to have someone stood at the toilets all day! It is completely unrealistic to expect them to be constantly supervised.

They are probably not actively supervised in toilets if they are in the same room. The staff would want them to be able to go there independently. I wouldn't rely on a 3 year olds version of anything though. Just speak to staff its not a big deal.

So the teacher told me about the being soaked incident as they had to change her clothes, and I suppose I just assumed it was a one off that she wandered away herself but she has told me about the toilet water drinking thing yesterday evening so I would have to clarify with the teacher if this is true, but if they are unsupervised the teacher probably won’t know.

Ah just to add the toilets are down a hall, not the same room!

Few incidents sorry if I wasn’t clear just the soaked one was especially bad and stood out! Not drinking water the taps in the toilets are just toilet water as such, not sure it will kill anyone but def not recommended to drink from!

Ds nursery they are unsupervised in toilets.
They have three classrooms. The 18month-3/3.5 year olds has a en-suites suite toilet area, they can still use alone and teacher just checks if taking ages and goes in when whole group taken ie before going outside. It has no door just around corner type thing, then three low toddler height doors inside.
The other 2 groups are 3-6 year olds mixed. They have toilets in hallway so away from classroom, again no main door so teacher can hear but not in there if that makes sense

So 3 year olds here can be in either group. Ds is in older group now (he’s 3 also). They are allowed to wander between rooms, down corridor to clock room area, toilets etc all alone. There’s no lock on main door either only garden gate has high electric door. So he could theoretically walk out classroom, down corridor and out into garden area alone. They are allowed a lot of independence

If in the U.K., the taps in the toilets contain drinking water. If for any reason it is not drinking water there would be a sign up, and that is very unlikely to be the case in a school or nursery.

Children will have the freedom to take themselves to the toilet - it's necessary for their independence. There will not be staff dedicated to toileting and if staff are expected to break away from their interactions every time a child needs accompanying to the toilet, learning won't happen. Which would you prefer?

Yes that’s exactly it!!! So one time was really badly soaked as in the clothes I brought home were like they were soaked in a bath, but the other times were mild and just a bit wet so I didn’t really mind, she just got handed out that way. They just said she came out of the toilets like that. I have overheard them saying to other parents about changing clothes because of messing with water in the toilets so it fits in with my little ones explanation but totally agree you can’t fully go on a three year old. I guess I’m just really wondering if it’s a done thing letting them head off to their own devices and if it is that’s fine, I just wasn’t totally sure. I’ll just work on her with not drinking the tap water from the bathroom. As was said, she will need to be independent for big school and I know it’s up to me to teach common sense as such! I suppose I just was thinking a group of kids together on their own that age in toilets unsupervised might be a recipe for trouble😂 fully accept mine needs to learn to behave in one though group or not as we don’t have the issue at home!

I'm kind of surprised they are unsupervised at that age, but I guess it isn't practical. They need to be able to say "i'm going to the loo' and take themselves there and back as part of development.
I worked in a school once for a day, and I didn't know the protocol, I had one kid (5yo) at a time and this one lad said he needed the toilet. I followed him as I thought he might run off. Waited outside and he didn't actually need to go, there was no noise. He just wanted to get out of doing my Maths test! Haha.

Tap water in bathrooms in this particular place definitely not recommended to drink. They don’t have signs but we were warned could cause tummy bugs. The kids can’t read so I can understand a lack of signs but maybe they are legally obliged to have one as a previous poster said, not too sure really except I know it’s not safe drinking water!

A nearly 4yo going to the toilet alone at nursery (provided the toilets are secure) is absolutely fine and perfectly normal. I would expect them to be going alone at nursery/preschool from as soon as they are reliably potty trained. Think about it, do you follow your dc into the toilet at home?

My DD started reception 2 weeks after she turned 4. The amount of independence that they need to have at school will surprise you, I remember being horrified 🤣 but obviously I realise now that it was good for her.

Also, preschoolers mucking about with water and getting soaked is just part and parcel with preschoolers 🤣

A 3 year old should be able to go the toilet unsupervised

Bit weird if they were being supervised

In my experience, it's quite normal by this point in the academic year, to not be actively supervising a pre-school group in the toilets.

And honestly, sometimes kids dick around in toilets with their pals, whether they're 3 or 11! I've had many a Year 6 child over the years that I've to tell off for splashing water around, or generally mucking about.

Who warned you the water could cause 'tummy bugs'

@HelloMiss the nursery sent us all letters about it.