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!

Our school’s water is tested regularly. It’s a requirement.

@LillyBugg well for example if they tell her to clog up the sink next with tissue or something and she floods the place that would be awful! Or a number of other things that little kids have been known to do unsupervised really like blocking toilets and causing damage ect . But I fully accept it’s my responsibility to make sure she learns not to do something because someone else says to do it and I will work on that!

Yes drinking water is provided in little jugs, at least that is what I was told, I don’t think it’s on demand I think it’s only with lunch. We are not allowed send in drinks as apparently there was an issue with some parents sending in juice and fizzy drinks despite them asking for only water. So now they say bring nothing in.

It's entirely normal for children to be in toilets unsupervised at that age. It's also entirely normal for girls & boys to share toilet/sink facilities at that age (and it is until they turn 8).
The whole drinking water thing is odd. I would be surprised if it is exactly as you are saying as that would seem to put them in breach of a whole load of regulations.

@dancinginthewind i don’t think it is though? I think there has to of course be clean safe drinking water provided , which there is in jugs but not in the toilets. Apparently it is safe for hand washing and I would have thought that was all was necessary from a toilet sink, especially when they don’t serve any food? I could be wrong on that though so open to correction. I wasn’t even aware it was a done thing to drink from toilet taps, but it is an old house converted to a nursery and I know our home, the toilet tap Would not have the same quality water anyway as the kitchen one ever, as it comes from a different source. But I guess really my main question was should there really be more supervision and the majority think not so that’s fair enough! I will just have to drill in not to be drinking from the toilet tap. I’m not sure it will ever be safe to drink from, so no harm in just saying a blanket don’t do it really! Honestly, it wouldn’t be in my interest to lie about it, I genuinely just wanted to know if it was a done thing to leave them be, and if it is that’s totally fine!

I'd be far more concerned about this. DD has water freely available (now from a bottle with a little tap so they fill up themselves) - I'd be very upset at any restrictions on water during the day

Exactly the same! If I’m in the middle of teaching Reception phonics and my TA is doing an activity with nursery - there literally isn’t anyone to go to the toilet to supervise them! We only go down with the new little.m nursery to check they’re okay and can do everything independently. Sometimes we’ll send a reception to help them open doors if needed!
even when I worked in private day nurseries and had more staff (and more children) we’d only periodically check the toilets and supervise when we were sending them all to wash hands in large groups!

Once they get to school they will need to go and come back on their own, so on that level it’s good practice for them.

I don’t recall any water splashing incidents during our DCs nursery years. I’m certain if it had happened more than once that staff would have attempted to sort out any problems with kids messing about. As regards drinking from taps, usually children will only model what they have seen. Are they confusing rinsing after toothbrushing and drinking perhaps?

In my place we provide water at snack time in cups, some bring in their own bottles which is fine but if its juice we don't give it to them. They are not allowed use their bottles during normal time as they would only be rolled around or thrown, and water is not accessible to them all the time as their would be spilling and splashing etc.. however if anyone requests a drink of water we provide it immediately. I understand this is part of Dept standards but I'm not in UK so can't say for sure.

That would be a massive safe guarding issue in my eyes. Are you in the UK? Tap water , bathroom or kitchen, IS safe in the UK, if for some reason it realky isn't then children of that age SHOULD be supervised because they are roo young to understand the implications of drinking it.

I'd not be worried about being unsupervised as such, but definitely if the water is 'not safe' and I'd be asking nursery what is the issue and how are they safeguarding the children against it.

For safeguarding purposes, you would need 2 adults to supervise if any. How would that work in reality?

I’d be more concerned about only getting a drink at lunch time. Children should have free access to drinking water no wonder they are drinking from the toilet taps

@Mama2many73 I figured myself if there is an issue with water and they are drinking it from the tap then there should be some supervision🤷🏼‍♀️

@Itsthemostwonderfultimeoftheyear yes I totally agree and I will be asking a bit more on Monday and just clarifying that if asked in between if it is provided or not as I wouldn’t be happy either.

@fiddlemeg as I said before, im not sure it is flouting health and safety. I won’t explain why not again but I did in a previous post say why I don’t think it is. The uk is possibly different to here, but im pretty sure toilets here do not need to provide drinking water. Really though it’s not relevant in the sense my question was about supervision though and the fact the toilet water is not clean to drink and is, if it’s the truth being drank by some of the kids. Some really good answers and I will be taking those on board as I wasn’t sure what the norm was. I’m also aware the norm may differ in different places but generally mumsnet is similar to where we are!

@fiddlemeg so sorry clicked on your name instead of a previous user regarding my reply!

3 year olds going into a toilet unsupervised isn’t even remotely unusual in a pre-school settling. Some 3 year olds will be turning 4 and going to school this year

Also, huge drip feed about the unsafe drinking water after you were told you were unreasonable about the lack of supervision? Next thing oh I forgot to say the toilet tap water is unsafe…

I’d be very suprised if this is true.

@Thefaceofboe I honestly never had an issue with anyone thinking it was unreasonable, or I wouldn’t have posted in AIBU. Happy to take all opinions on board and can see it’s considered fine for this age to be unsupervised🤷🏼‍♀️ Happy to accept I’m likely being over protective about the tap water and supervision if it’s not a done thing. Equally accept the uk has bathroom drinking water and other places do not, I was not aware of the uk being different till I was told this , I made the incorrect assumption that the uk was the same and so didn’t think it was relevant🤷🏼‍♀️

I disagree, they should always be supervised! They're still very young.

Again thank you all for your input! Much appreciated! I think the thread is done for me now as I have plenty of useful info and opinions, thanks for taking the time to respond!

You should not rinse after toothbrushing, only spit out excess toothpaste. The idea is to leave a thin coating of fluoride in your teeth.

Haven't read the whole thread but I work in a nursery, the preschool room (3 to 5 year olds) are down the corridor from the toilets, so whenever a child needs to go they obviously can't go with them. If staff see a child needs help or is being silly then we stop it/ help them. Also if a child has been a while then they'll check on them. Seems normal.