4 year old will not go to the loo at nursery

[Lulu2boys]

My 4 year old DS will not go to the loo at nursery school. He normally does just half a day so can easily hold a wee in for the 3/4 hours. This term he was beginning to do a longer day until 3pm but he still manages to hold it in having not been since 8am! We end up doing a wee on the pavement on the way home.

Nursery school teachers are being brilliant and are really trying to take him when he obviously needs to go.

I'm worried that he is doing himself damage but also that it affects his learning because he sits there worrying/wanting to go to the loo and not listening to what is going on. He starts school in September so I really want to get this sorted out before then. Have tried bribes, reward charts, going in to take him to the loo myself. Nothing has worked.

Away from nursery school he is pretty much ok.

Has anyone else had a similar experience and if so, any advice?!

Thank you!

no advice but I have a 3 1/2 dd who is exactly the same. DD goes to private nursery 3 days a week whilst I work, roughly 8-4 and the majority of the time does not use the toilet there. when i go to pick her up and ask if she needs the loo she jumps at the chance and even has a 'favourite' toilet so i know she obviously has used it at some point but the staff say unless they ask she doesn't go. They are really good at asking but I am really worried about what happens next September when she starts infant school. Not looking to hi jack but really interested in any replies. Just to add dd doesn't talk much to teachers at nursery (although they say she never shuts up with the other kids) and can be the same with the toilet at home. She will easily go 6 hours without visiting the toilet, we've tried leaving her and it doesn't seem to bother her. Now I've built it into her routine (toilet first thing, toilet before getting dressed, toilet before lunch, toilet before dinner, toilet before bath etc) just to make sure she doesn't end up with an infection.

My first was like this, did play group half days from 2 and then half days nursery from 3 and never once went to the toilet. (even took her own potty into playgroup and she wouldn't use it)
She started school September (almost 5) and is fine. I think they have a specific time that they take them all just before break times so the focus isn't on her asking to go or being singled out.

Thanks for your messages. It is good to know he isn't the only one who has a bladder of iron! Am about to read the stubborn children thread, maybe there will be something there!

I'm not sure where we go from here. DH is talking about behavioural psychologists but not sure I want to make more of an issue of it.