To ask what you think to this school new rule?

[Redsatin109]

Just heard from other parents that apparently they’ll be reducing the amount of water y2 and upwards can have next year. So limiting the amount of times they can access their water bottle. This is because they’re only allowed to go to the toilets at breaks/lunch and it’s to limit toileting accidents in the classroom.

Obviously I’m ancient but I managed to get through my entire education without carrying a water bottle around. I’m not sure that human physiology has changed that much in the intervening period.

Certainly from year 2 onwards, children are encouraged to use the toilet at break and lunchtime, but should always be allowed to go during transitions or if they are feeling uncomfortable. Accidents in class should never happen. Children should not be denied access to water, but water bottles should be stored centrally and accessed during transitions or at other appropriate times during the school day. I would check what the school policy actually is and you'll probably find that the protocol is something more like the above.

DS is in year one and they're only allowed their water bottles during early morning (soft open between 8:30 and 8:50 bell goes at 8:50 after that is late) , morning snack time ( with fruit) , lunchtime and during afternoon choosing time. DS manages 2-3 500ml bottles in that time, include his drink with breakfast and anything he drinks after 3:15 and he's very well hydrated.
I don't think children need constant water, even adults carrying around bottles of it is a relatively new thing. I can imagine it's also very disruptive if children are either getting to to get drinks during lessons, whether they need them or not, or if they have them on tables to fiddle with.

I let mine all have a drink after their breaks and I allow water bottles in class when it’s very hot. My god though, the constant disruption is unbelievable. Even worse when the school bottle has a sports cap that they suck on constantly like it’s a dummy. We come in after lunch at 1.15 and by 1.30 the toilet run starts … and then we have the bottle flippers, the ones who tip them all over their books, the ones who put open bottles back in the crate upside down and create a hazard. I no longer allow filling up or going to the toilet whilst I am explaining anything or in the taught bit of the lesson. If that makes me a monster so be it.

What about if you're a police officer, a prison officer, work in court, maybe you're a surgeon or a train driver, do you think you can just nip to the toilet whenever you like?

Sounds sensible

Of course they can. I can’t go to the toilet when I want in my job.

We never drank during class and neither did my children when they were at school so unless lessons are now three hours longer than before, I can’t see the problem.

Ah, one of those parents then. The parent that all teachers roll their eyes about in the staff room and the one with the kids in regular detention in senior school, as they haven’t been brought up with any manners or respect for others or rules.

At my first primary school there was no food or drink allowed at breaks let alone in class. It was for lunch time only. There were no water bottles. Toilets were used only at break/lunch time, I think they were locked the rest of the time and teachers didn't allow you out of the class. Not saying that was right but it is probably possible to swing too far the other way.

Totally fine, kids don't need to sip constantly. There are regular breaks in school, they can wait until break for a drink unless its really hot.

It’s disgusting and nothing to do with education.

Im a teacher ( thankfully no longer in a prison , I mean a mainstream primary ) and I was on supply for a while - no matter what the school policy I never refused a child going to the toilet or having a drink . I will stand there teaching , sipping a coffee so what right do I have to tell a child they can’t drink when they’re thirsty ! Going to the toilet is different - a teacher has to wait - but , the teacher is an adult and if I was desperate i would have called for a TA to cover me. It’s basic human rights

Not really sure how you came up with that idea. Strange comment!

Of course employers can do this!

It is. And the approx 2-5 times a day someone spills the whole thing over their work. But if you implement a water bottle station instead of bottles on desks parents complain that you are dehydrating their children.

This. I see 5 years old carrying two litres of water.. how much time do they spend in the loo?

Well they’re not actually reducing the amount of water are they? Just the frequency with which they drink it. They can drink the same volume of water in total, just in larger aliquots. It’s exactly the same physiologically, and perfectly fine even on hot days.

OK, and if they asked this of office workers there'd be strikes.

But the children are not any of those things, they are children, in a school.

Are you in the UK? If so I think you're wrong about employers and toilet breaks, I think it's allowable to have set times

I would support the school and assume the current way of working is becoming disruptive to learning. Very few pupils will need constant access to water and they will have a medical note to say so.

I wouldn't be happy with that. Surely if they drink less they'll be prone to uti which would make them want to go to the toilet more regardless of whether they have any wee or not.

Your comment was an employer can't tell you when to go to the toilet. That's what I was responding to. They can.

When I was at primary school we had our water bottles on our desks so there was no one getting up anywhere to disrupt anything. We filled them up at break at the fountain- although that limited our time to run around and play. People raised their hands to use the toilet, it was never an issue.

İt literally isn't a disruption to drink water, people do it at their job all day long and manage to be productive.

I feel like schools these days just like to look for issues.

I was a teacher. In a school. I could only get a drink and go to the loo at break and lunchtime.