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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Drink bottles. Are they allowed on your children's tables?

32 replies

chuffinalong · 13/10/2014 21:21

Hi, my daughter has a real issue with drinking and there seems to be times when the children are allowed a drink. Their bottles are kept on a table at the back of the class room. Is this normal in all primary schools?
It would be so much easier if my daughter had her bottle on her table to just grab a sip when ever she wanted without having to wait for the proper time.
Just wondered if this was normal practice. If not, I'm going to speak to the head.
Thanks

OP posts:

fuctifino · 13/10/2014 21:22

What year is she?

In infants the bottles were away from the tables.
In juniors, the bottles are on the tables.

Trollsworth · 13/10/2014 21:23

No they aren't, they are put on the shelf at the back if the classroom and only allowed at break times. Frankly, most schools take no notice whatsoever of government guidelines because its inconvenient and sometimes impossible.

WorraLiberty · 13/10/2014 21:25

What fuctifino said.

Infants tend to wee like a dripping pipe if they drink continually, so tend to need the loo far more than the Juniors. If the bottle is in front of them, they'll probably sip it for the sake of it, rather than because they're actually thirsty.

And then there's the spillages.

OddBoots · 13/10/2014 21:28

They've never been allowed on tables in the schools my dc have been to. How frequent are the times they are allowed to drink?

Icedfinger · 13/10/2014 21:29

Speaking from the point of view of a teacher I have done both.
Obviously water bottles on tables are ideal as children should have access to water when they need it.

However, it can lead to-
Constantly drinking, whenever the teacher is talking some children feel the need to drink almost out of habit. This leads to constantly needing to wee!
Something else to clutter tables with and for children to fiddle with.
Leakages and spillages on tables.

Most teachers who have 'a box' will allow access during independent work but it makes the children think before they drink!!

KateBeckett · 13/10/2014 21:30

I'm in year 3 and no, I don't let them keep water bottles on tables.
There are a few reasons - firstly I don't think the vast majority need to have constant access (there are obviously exceptions - I have a pupil with diabetes and when her blood sugar is high she keeps her bottle with her as she needs it)
Secondly, there is already enough stuff squished onto their tables - books, pencil pots, work trays- there isn't really room for bottles as well.
Thirdly, children can be clumsy! I don't want water spilling all over their tables ruining their work.

If you have a genuine reason why your dd needs to drink constantly, the teacher might make an exception to when she can get up. If it's just that she isn't drinking at the right time, that's something you would need to work on with her imo.

DancingDinosaur · 13/10/2014 21:35

Reception they are kept on a table at the back of the classroom. Yr 1 upwards they have it on their desks.

simpson · 13/10/2014 21:39

They are kept on a table at the back.

If one child has their water bottle in front of them, then they tend to fiddle with it & not concentrate on the lesson (which is why pencil cases are now banned!)

Tanaqui · 13/10/2014 21:39

Not on tables as some children have squash and that is sticky ( yes water is rule, yes some children won't drink it, yes some parents put colourless squash in and lie- at least if you knew it was squash... Aaaaagh!)

Wolfiefan · 13/10/2014 21:40

Unless your child has a medical issue or you live in an extremely hot environment then kids don't need normally need to drink constantly. Why sip constantly instead of having a proper drink at break times?

KateBeckett · 13/10/2014 22:09

Also, can I ask why you intend to go straight to the head instead of speaking to your dd's class teacher?

scaevola · 13/10/2014 22:14

No, never on their tables.

Children really don't need to drink constantly (unless on medical advice, in which case the school would have to facilitate) especially as it's not that long between breaks in a typical timetable.

Though of course it's only humane to let very small pupils, who are still adjusting to school routine, fetch a drink on the odd occasion they really cannot wait.

18yearstooold · 14/10/2014 00:36

Bottles in a tray next to the sink -used to be on tables but the children couldn't be sensible with them

They are allowed them when they come in from playtime/lunch and during independent work time (in other words after the teacher has finished talking)
There is also water on the tables at lunch time

Some children use their water bottles almost like a dummy if you let them and its very disruptive

Galena · 14/10/2014 07:52

I agree, back of the class and allowed to drink at break times and once teacher has stopped talking. This is very normal. Children don't need constant drinks.

hazeyjane · 14/10/2014 08:09

The bottles are kept in a tray by the sink at the dd's school. Dd2 once had a very serious cycle of uti's, constipation and dehydration, and she had a drs note requesting that she has a bottle on the table, to have a drink at very regular intervals, but apart from that it has always been kept by the sink.

At ds's school they have a jug of water with cups by the sink, and if you have medical needs ( it is a special unit ) then you have a named bottle on a separate table.

noramum · 14/10/2014 09:05

DD is not allowed to have her bottle on the table and they have restrictions when to get them.

I can understand it, in theory. Nothing is worse than leaking bottles, children sipping instead of listening and 30 children running one after the other during lessons to their bottle.

But: DD has chronic constipation and we now see the effects. Because it seems confusing when they are allowed to drink she hardly does it. She drinks during lunchtime from the water fountain as they are not allowed to take the bottles out into the playground.

So, if a school restrict access then please make sure the children have enough possibility to drink and maybe remind new Y3s in a brand new Junior school of this.

MidniteScribbler · 14/10/2014 09:54

I let my students have them on their desks. They know that if they muck around too much with them or cause problems then they will have the privilege revoked. I have a drink bottle on my desk I drink from all day, so have no problems with children doing the same. I do live in Australia where the temperatures are high in the hotter months, so would rather them drink regularly.

AmazonGrace · 14/10/2014 13:05

Asked Ds this morning and his water bottle goes on a tray not on the desk.

Original poster

chuffinalong · 14/10/2014 16:20

Ok, thanks everyone.

She's in year 4. As far as I know, it's the same all the way through the school too. She has learning difficulties and chronic constipation. When she doesn't drink, it makes the constipation worse. Again she came home today with a full bottle. She's a nightmare! At home, I have to constantly remind her to drink and it's usually little sips at a time.
I doubt he'd make an exception just because the little so and so won't drink....

OP posts:

Trollsworth · 14/10/2014 16:35

No, he might well make an exception because she won't drink ... He won't want her missing school because of constipation. Make an appointment to discuss this.

hazeyjane · 14/10/2014 16:38

Does she have a care plan or statement?

Ds has it written in to his care plan that he needs to have drink given to him.

If not a Drs note should mean they have to allow her a drink on the table.

Original poster

chuffinalong · 14/10/2014 18:13

Thank you. Yes she has a statement and a full time one to one lady. I'll have a word with him.

OP posts:

Original poster

chuffinalong · 14/10/2014 18:14

Oh and a care plan but that is only for her intimate care.

OP posts:

KateBeckett · 14/10/2014 19:45

In your dd's case I would make an exception and let her keep her bottle with her. I'd also ask her 121 to remind her to drink.

Hulababy · 14/10/2014 20:01

In my infants water bottles are kept in the classroom, on a table at the front of the room, ear to the door. Makes them easily accessible before and after play times which is when we generally encourage children to take a drink.

We do not allow drinks bottles on the carpet or on tables due to spills - this is even more the case since more and more children choose bottles without sports type caps.

Spilled drinks do happen - its inevitable if you have 30 young children, lids that might not quite fit/shut every time and a cramped room. And spilled drinks ruin work.

Whilst we do not generally allow children to get off the carpet for a drink during learning time, once they are sent to desks they can get up and have a drink should they need to.

We have had children in the past with medical needs who have needed to drink frequently. We just reminded them more often and one had a small drink card on her table to remind her more often that that too. We would, wherever possible, discourage any drinks bottles at tables. In this case though we would let your dc have their water bottle in front of them on the carpet, especially for longer carpet sessions.

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