Banned from going to toilet at school in lunch time

[MamaMaiasaura]

I have just got back from dropping ds off at school and feeling really miffed.

I have to be quick as got interview to go to but briefly this is what has happened:

Yesterday after school ds (6) was not in the best of moods. Easily bought to tears over small things like getting out of bath, telly going off, pyjama's not right.. HE then told me that he had been in trouble at school as he had turned on all the taps in the loo to find the warmest to wash his hands. He said his teacher told him off and he was worried she would still be cross tomorrow. I siggested he apologise agian to his teacher in the morning and I will speak to her (apparantly she was going to speak to me).

HIstorically at school ds is generally well behaved polite etc. He is a little slow at eating his lunch and often gets nagged to hurry up. HE also is slower going to loo and has said that the teachers come in and hurry him up when he is trying to have a poo (cant see that being seen as ok if we had employers nagging us). He also washes his hands properly, but gets hurried for that too. HE doesnt fight with other kids, doesnt answer back. HE is a bit of a day dreamer and sometimes chatters.

He has had problems with a dinner lady altho I havent raised this before. Most recent thing was after ds returned to school after being poorly she said 'I was in a good mood but now I am in a bad one because you are back' said to ds.

So anyway I spoke to teacher about the taps and she tells me that ds had messed around in the toilets before and that they are only allowing him to go before him lonch and then when lunchtime is over and the teacher is able to take him. I said I felt this perhaps wasnt the best idea as he might need to go before she is available to take him. She said he would have to hold it for 10 min or so. Thing is after you have eaten usually it increases the urge to go as food pushed down. I told the teacher about the dinner lady and queried if in fact this lady had some sort of issue with ds. I am really annoyed as I fel they are using a sledgehammer to push in a nail. He was so upset by the whole thing, cl;early wont be turning all the taps on again and they have just cofirmed to ds the need for his upset last night..

Am I being completely over protective and blinkered?

Congrats on job. Now what about a bit of feedback? Or are you too busy celebrating?

Your poor son, i think its awful, I would have hated to be escorted to the toilet as a child, how embarrasing! He prob needs to go afew times as if he is being escorted he maynot be able to go properly (being watched or waited for!) Also pressing the taps, even if he did do it to be naughty, is is not every childs curiosity to press things! Most children like turning on switches, pressing buttons (traffic lights) and so on so whats the big problem. Those taps take a while for the water to come warm anyway and by the time they do the water stops running! He was not being naughty and I think teachers should not be so bloody strict with something so trivial. As for the dinner lady, I bet your son is really upset with that comment and I would certainly make an official complaint, they cant ignore those!
i hope all goes well.

sorry - only just got my lazy butt back on here

Spoke to teacher, she said ds had a very oggd day been attentive, no problems at all etc. I explianed that I was left feeling confused this morning as to why they would stop him using the toilet. She said that they wont stop him. He can go when he likes but not with his friends as they then end up playing.

Feel so much better for talking to her. I may have misunderstood what she said this morning (although I do remember clearly her saying ds not beong allowed to go at lunchtime). His teacher did say she has also spoken to head teacher and also top dinner lady regarding the behaviour of the other dinner lady to son. Apparantly they think it may have been meant in jest. I exlpianed that ds did not take it this way and was upset. She accepted this and that agreed that it was inappropriate for dinner lady to say.

Pleased I spoke to her. Even more pleased she approached me.

Having said all of that ds is still completely out of sorts.. wonder if he is brewing again.

Thank you all so much for your input and valuable advice. IT really helped. When I first typed on this thread I was feeling so cross for ds and very protective.