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Original poster

Is checking contents of childrens bottles and confiscating them if not water only illegal?

302 replies

devonvalley · 14/09/2010 23:18

New head has instructed staff to do above!!
They get returned 2 hrs later a t lunch, so my son who is working towards water only,has a drink at 8am then not til 1pm ! the idea behind preventing dehydration is to increase a childs fluid intake to enhance concentration levels in school and a dash of good squash or flavoured water which a lot of parents would /are using will be confiscated !!(hs sugar free additive free, natural flavouring dash of squash to take rawness off for time being) all rest of family drink water, but son has food issues,and refuses to drink water on its own.we keep trying,others did convert a t there own pace!(children should be treated as individuals at school are they not??) If it was coke i could understand!
We have to give written consent to many things in school time, this needs our permission does it not?checking, confiscating. We fought two wars in this country to deny dictorial leadership??

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Original poster
devonvalley · 15/09/2010 00:02

Not childish, just true, pratice what they preach ? Who are the parents anyway??

OP posts:
savoycabbage · 15/09/2010 00:03

Your child won't drink water so he should be allowed to have another drink.....

What about the child who won't eat fruit? He should get something else at fruit time. Maybe some carrot cake.

My friend's ds hates collars and it took her about eight months before she wasn't fighting him in the morning as he wanted to keep on his PJs. But she didn't go in and tell the school he was going to wear different clothes from everybody else.

I think you should send him to a different school. Some schools are very rule driven and some are not and you have picked the wrong one for you. At our schools there are no food or drink restrictions for lunches.

Original poster
devonvalley · 15/09/2010 00:06

morning break at 1045- water only or bottles being confiscated !!!!!! 2hrs after a t lunch they can have squash, pizza, cakes etc if they had school lunch (mine have balanced packed lunch!)

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booyhoo · 15/09/2010 00:06

the parents are the ones who chose the school and if they didn't agree with the school's rules they shouldn't have chosen the school.

spiritmum · 15/09/2010 00:07

I really don't have a problem with the water thing tbh so long as juice is allowed at lunch time for dc who don't like it - I know adults who can't drink it and I can barely touch unfiltered tap water (sorry, sounds nobby but I can't).

I have no problem with teachers keeping themselves hydrated during lessons. I do object to it being necessary for them to drink and not for the pupils, esp. as my dc then get constipated.

Ditto all KS2 children wearing ties when the Head has an open-necked shirt and the teaching staff are in jeans. No problem with relaxed dress cose for staff so long as the puils have a less formal uniform.

spiritmum · 15/09/2010 00:09

The rules re juice etc are to tick the box for Ofsted that this is a 'healthy school', that's all. Some rules ar eworth fighting about. This one isn't IMO.

Love to know how they check though. Do they sniff each bottle?

Original poster
devonvalley · 15/09/2010 00:11

all our children have happily attended or are attending this school for past 10 years. new head(new broom..) my friend been a parent helper crb checked for 7 yrs and has been asked to supply 2 referrees!!- lot of very unhappy parents at mo.

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ZZZenAgain · 15/09/2010 00:14

suppose they can see by colour if squash is added.

Add something that doesn't change the colour? I have no idea what that could be though... and get ds onto pure water asap

If lots of parents are dissatisfied with the changes, maybe they need to get together. Strength in numbers etc

Original poster
devonvalley · 15/09/2010 00:15

sniff apparently, hope they don't have a cold ha ha! ----government food agency says" water preferred option, but alternatives dilute squash or milk"

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booyhoo · 15/09/2010 00:16

yes and at some point in the last 10 years you would have been informed of the schools new healthy school policy. by applying for your child to go to the school you are accepting that the school will enforce the policy, including your child's drinks. if you weren't happy with that hen you should have looked at other schools. you made the decision to continue sending your dc there, no one made you. is it really that big a deal in the grand scheme of things that your child will encounter throughout his time there?

Clary · 15/09/2010 00:17

One reason for water only is that if you spill squash or juice it makes much more of a sticky mess in school.

I agree that if he is thirsty he will drink water. Most schools have this rule and it makes sense to me.

But then I have never understood people who wn't drink water. It doesn't taste of anything! And wth is "raw" about it?

Good post cat64.

GypsyMoth · 15/09/2010 00:17

I have no need to re read anything!!!

You clearly think an exception should be made for your ds. Not many posters agreeing with you tho......

GypsyMoth · 15/09/2010 00:20

And what do you mean by 'illegal'??

Original poster
devonvalley · 15/09/2010 00:22

last head always said " water preferred ", but no fizzy drinks.
Equally- its not a big deal to allow a dash of flavour! Will they be policing lunchboxes next.??

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booyhoo · 15/09/2010 00:25

yes but the last head is gone now and the rules are water only. if you don't agree with it then find another school but you cannot expect the school to make exceptions for your child when there is no reason for him not to drink water.

booyhoo · 15/09/2010 00:26

and yes, lot sof schools monitor lunchboxes. it is quite common.

Original poster
devonvalley · 15/09/2010 00:27

privacy of belongings, I have to ask permission to get something for a patient out of his/her locker not just go ahead! I don't just go and rifle through a teachers bag! we has parents a re asked for written consent on many things, this needs to be one of them!

OP posts:
DollyTwat · 15/09/2010 00:27

Does he wear a uniform as well?

Pick your battles I say. This is not one you'll win

GypsyMoth · 15/09/2010 00:29

I think lunchboxes do get policed in some schools!

But schools do change with new heads...... Ours changed uniform trousers from black to grey.

GypsyMoth · 15/09/2010 00:30

You're saying the school should require written consent to take away water bottles??? Eh?

booyhoo · 15/09/2010 00:33

you gave your consent when you applied for his place in the school. you will have been provided with a copy of the policy on the open day and probably again on the induction or principle's address.

Clary · 15/09/2010 00:33

What an extraordinary idea re privacy of belongings!

I helped in an FS2 class and would often go into a child's bookbag to get out their reading book etc.

Was I not supposed to do that then? Confused

ZZZenAgain · 15/09/2010 00:34

well our school doesn't do any of this lunchbox, drink bottle control so I don't think it has to be this way. Is it really worth having the hassle now though if you are phasing out the squirt of squash anyway? I mean he would soon have moved on to just water anyway

booyhoo · 15/09/2010 00:37

Op you would be amazed at how often teachers and TAs are going into children's bags for notes and money and putting in drawings and invitations etc

Original poster
devonvalley · 15/09/2010 00:37

to inspect and confiscate there/our property

only a dash of flavour after all- our other kids took to water so he will eventually- but at a time when he is ready and is not a battle.

A great media debate would be interesting- government reps- local mmmm.......

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