That it's a basic human right for kids to be able to use the toilet at school?

[sorrysaywhatnow]

So, fully prepared to be told I'm being unreasonable, that it's disruptive to other students etc, but if your year 9 daughter has her period and is flooding, surely it's BU for teachers to say you can't use the toilet in lesson time unless you have a medical exemption for bladder problems? She had to sit for the entire lesson, refused permission even when she had to describe the problem to the teacher. I mean, really? I knew it was a new policy that the school had introduced, but I think it's ridiculous.

@Unanananana

If that was my DD, I would tell her that she should get up, walk out of the classroom and sort herself out. I would then deal with the teacher for humiliating her.

Yes, I would advise she just gets up and leaves (with minimum fuss/disruption). You might get a phone call home, but that's fine- saves you calling them!

@Giraffe31

For all those saying just get up and walk out - at my school all toilets were locked during lessons so if the teacher wouldn’t give you the key you couldn’t just walk out. There was nowhere to change/relieve yourself

Yikes, that has to be against some kind of regulation?

@Fridafever

There are a lot of threads started this evening about periods. Maybe don’t share stories of your teen girls flooding

Maybe they are all in sync 😆

DS has a card he shows teacher if he needs the toilet as he has ASD and can’t hold his so gets very anxious aswell. He’s wet himself several times in primary school because one of the teachers thought he was disrupting lessons going to the toilet and he dances around when he needs the toilet.
The fact your daughter explained and the teacher didn’t let her explains more about the teacher. Some of them just like exert power and she should be reprimanded for it.

Ooh we never had locked toilets that's bad but if that was me I'd find somewhere to go outside if I was desperate to go. Shouldn't have to come to that though

@maddy68

I'm a teacher and we don't allow kids out during lessons as we have several self harmers so we need to ensure they are supervised so a blanket rule.

If a kid came a whispered to me (and they do) that they REALLY needed to gi to the toilet. They were ukd be allowed to go. I don't know a single teacher that wouldn't

It's also a life lesson. Go Inbetween classes and break times (just the same as teachers have to )

@maddy68

Can you explain how you tell your body not to flood when on your period because you can only do that between classes?

Sorry OP, misread year 9 as age 9. Scrap that. In that case, I think I would bring it up with the head of year. Flooding does happen and she should be allowed to go, no doubt about it. At secondary it’s a discrimination and equality issue - she should not be made to be disadvantaged in her education by having her period (which is direct sex discrimination). She should be able to access facilities that mean her period does not affect her educational experience, and this does. Definitely take it up with them but make it clear it’s a sex discrimination issue in the making.

As a teacher I let my students go to the toilet whenever they ask. It’s not school policy but I don’t care.

If they have a medical condition they go straight away no questions asked but if they don’t then I’ll usually ask them to finish the bit of work they’re on first or wait until someone else comes back from the toilet.

Sometimes they don’t need the toilet and just need a break but as long as they’re not too long and not messing around then I have no problem with it. They’re made to put their phones on my desk before they leave though.
Some also don’t like going at break as the toilets are busier.

Obviously as a teacher I can’t go to the toilet when I want but I’d like to think if I was about to shit myself or my period was dripping down my leg I’d be able to go.

I have one or two that take the mick but the majority either don’t ask or very rarely ask. I’d rather have them feel comfortable enough to ask and end up with a couple taking the mick than someone sitting in my class embarrassed, anxious and not being able to concentrate on the work anyway.

I would hope my own daughter would be allowed to go to the toilet when she needs to too.

Make a formal complaint, escalate it to the top and keep pushing until this stupid policy is reversed. Make the following points:

• It is sex discrimination against girls to not allow them to manage menstruation in a dignified and effective manner.

• Forcing someone to bleed onto their clothes / a chair is unlikely to comply with health and safety legislation and is negligent and a clear breach of the school’s duty of Make a formal complaint, escalate it to the top and keep pushing until this stupid policy is reversed. Make the following points: It is sex discrimination against girls to not allow them to manage menstruation in a dignified and effective manner Forcing someone to bleed onto their clothes / a chair is unlikely to comply with health and safety legislation and is negligentand a bredach of the school’s duty of care Tell them that unless they change the and policy will be keeping your daughter off for the entirety of her period each month and/or taking the school to Court for denying her safe access to her education. I know I sound over the top and aggressive. When I want stuff to change, I go in over the top and aggressive and you know what headteachers and landlords do? They give me everything I want and pray I’ll go away soo/or taking the school to Court for denying her safe access to her education. I know I sound over the top and aggressive. When I want stuff to change, I go in over the top and aggressive and you know what headteachers and landlords do? They give me everything I want and pray I’ll go away soon.

The toilet situation in schools is a problem. Smoking, drugs, violence, self-harming, truanting, poo smeared on walls, doors pulled off hinges, pipes smashed, writing on mirrors, toilet roll stuffed down sinks and taps left on.

How would all you people who don't work in schools allow access to toilets for all students at all times, and also avoid any misbehaviour? Because there could well be 500 other girls in the school, not just your daughter.

It's really hard for teachers to work out when a toilet break is needed.

Generally, in secondary, you can grab a toilet break en route between lessons.

In primary , you can generally ask and be allowed to go.

What I will say , is that the vast majority of toilet breaks are during English and Maths.
A few are requested during PE.
None are requested during Wake and Shake or Topic time.

Funny that.

Absolutely disgusting, typical male teacher on a power trip. We had locked toilets between lessons at high school. They were sometimes locked before school as well. Great when you’ve walked 45 mins to school and come on on the way 🙄. It’s literally left me with a complex about toilets and years later, at work, on days out etc, the first thing I do is work out where the loos are. Once I know there is a bathroom, I’m fine. But not knowing I can use one if I need to make me anxious. And that’s over 30 years later.

It's also a life lesson. Go Inbetween classes and break times (just the same as teachers have to

Teachers maybe (and people performing a surgery etc) may have to schedule breaks, but in general, adults can go to the toilet when they need to. Children should be allowed to as well.

I always let a girl go to the toilet if she says she is on her period.

Kids do lie though. And once you’ve let one go, another 15 suddenly need the toilet too.

They have to be accompanied to the toilets by another teacher or TA - to make sure they aren’t self harming / skiving / assaulting other pupils / damaging school property etc.

It’s a massive staffing issue.

Teachers have a responsibility for the safety of their pupils. I can’t keep a kid safe if they are in the loo and I am teaching the other 29 in the classroom.

There are a lot of threads started this evening about periods. Maybe don’t share stories of your teen girls flooding

Good advice.

And why do we need this same thread every. bloody. week.

Erm loads of people work in jobs that mean they can’t just go to the toilet when they want?! Bus and train drivers, people who work in supermarkets, in factories and warehouses, banks, hospitality…the lost goes on. Learning to control one’s bladder and bowel, and thinking ahead, is an absolutely necessary lesson.

Teachers maybe (and people performing a surgery etc) may have to schedule breaks, but in general, adults can go to the toilet when they need to

Loads of adults know to nip to the loo before heading into a business meeting. Or just before starting work on a check out or factory floor.

Anyone heading off for a long car journey knows to have a wee before setting off.

Planning your pee breaks is quite a basic life skill.

I would contact the head as this policy seems to disproportionally impact girls and cause deep shame and embarrassment when denied

It’s interesting that the aggressive posters demanding anyone be allowed to go to the toilet whenever aren’t actually addressing the reasons why schools can’t allow this. Funny that.

I am a teacher. I pretty much always let lassies go to the loo. I could not give a shiny shite what the policy is. In near enough 20 years in the classroom I reckon I know who's at it and who is genuine. I WAS that kid near 30 year ago with a big flooding period and an absolute horror of what would happen if I didn't go straight away.

The "at risk" kids are a different ball game and blanket rules do not apply to them.

@FallonCarringtonWannabe

The toilet situation in schools is a problem. Smoking, drugs, violence, self-harming, truanting, poo smeared on walls, doors pulled off hinges, pipes smashed, writing on mirrors, toilet roll stuffed down sinks and taps left on.

How would all you people who don't work in schools allow access to toilets for all students at all times, and also avoid any misbehaviour? Because there could well be 500 other girls in the school, not just your daughter.

This^^ when the COVID thing started we had kids pulling the hand sanitisers off the walls be pouring it all down the sink or squirting it at each other. There’s nobody to supervise the toilets in lessons because staff are teaching. Literally anything could happen to a child if they’re allowed to wander off to the toilet. I totally agree that girls should be able to go and tbh I’ve always chanced it and let girls go if they mention periods but I can see why staff might not

they really shouldn't have to whisper or explain to male staff why they need to be excused

How on earth would the member of staff know then?

I’d take higher. If she explained and was still refused then that’s appalling.

I have lasting issues with anxiety to this day about toilet access because of how my high school policed them. They were only unlocked for the last 5 minutes of morning break, then similar at the end of lunch. If you even managed to get let out of class to go with a medical exemption, you had to go to the office, find out which teacher was rota'd to have the key that day, go to their class and get the key, go to bathroom, take key back, then go back to your own lesson. It would take a good 15-20 minutes, and on your return you'd get ribbed about the time by the popular kids "Eww you must have gone for a poo! In SCHOOL!"
Idk about anyone else, but when i have a UTI and get the urge, there's no time for all that traipsing about, i'd have wee'd myself before i ever got the damn key.