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Original poster

Childrens Toilet breaks

45 replies

Mumof3onetwothree · 02/02/2024 19:31

My child's school have been told they can only go to the toilet during lunchtime - a new rule. So now my child isn't finishing her lunch because shes queuing for the toilet for a lot of eating time.
I understand it must be annoying to have 30 children going to the toilet during class time but on the other hand she is coming out of school absolutely starving and then needs a huge snack if we are to have any kind of half decent afternoon but then isn't hungry for dinner. And often it's hard to get her to eat enough after school as she just wants her usual quick snack then homework and playing or activity but then the crankiness is off the charts.
It was going fine when she could go to the bathroom during class and had enough time to eat all her food.
Not sure what is reasonable to expect because I see it from the teacher's side too.

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whatsappdoc · 02/02/2024 19:50

Unless she's taking an hour to eat lunch then why can't she go before going out into the playground?

jannier · 02/02/2024 20:06

whatsappdoc · 02/02/2024 19:50

Unless she's taking an hour to eat lunch then why can't she go before going out into the playground?

The que....in my primary that's 90 kids over 5 girls and 3 boys plus urinals.

Sherrystrull · 02/02/2024 20:10

How many children and how many toilets share the same toilets? We have 60 girls sharing 3 toilets and they can all get through the toilets in ten mins.

PurBal · 02/02/2024 20:34

Not having access to a toilet is incredibly bad for your bladder. I was forced to “hold it” as a child and as a result suffered from incontinence for 15 years. I’m now seeing a consultant in attempt to retrain my bladder but I may have to consider surgery.

ERIC advocate against this. There’s a good section on this on their website. https://eric.org.uk/information/school-toilet-policy/

Your daughter shouldn’t have to choose between peeing and eating. Because of my experience this would be enough for me to consider removing my child, but I appreciate many people would consider this extreme. I would definitely raise the issues around bladder health in conjunction with not having time to eat.

Children playing in school playground

School toilet policy: rules and regulations - ERIC

The rules and regulations around school toilets can be confusing. We provide excellent best practice guidance and resources on this issue.

https://eric.org.uk/information/school-toilet-policy/

Original poster
Mumof3onetwothree · 02/02/2024 20:56

They get about 10 minutes to eat in the classroom I think. Then outside time. Don't think they're allowed bring food outside as the yard is astro and they don't like food falling and being left on it.
Lunch break is half an hour.
I have no idea what the ratio of toilets to students is. There are about 400 children in the school.
It's Ireland so length of break time must be different, definitely not an hour long.

OP posts:
wafflingworrier · 02/02/2024 21:08

How old is your child?
How often does she go at home?
Google internal absences at schools, there are a lot of children who magically need the toilet every time they are asked to do any written task, then come back after ten mjns and spend 5 sharpening their pencil, the losing and finding their rubber, then run out of time to learn anything. The school have put this in place for a reason.

CherryPiePiePie · 02/02/2024 21:10

Be glad it’s a new rule, this has been a rule in my children’s school for years!

Original poster
Mumof3onetwothree · 02/02/2024 21:29

wafflingworrier · 02/02/2024 21:08

How old is your child?
How often does she go at home?
Google internal absences at schools, there are a lot of children who magically need the toilet every time they are asked to do any written task, then come back after ten mjns and spend 5 sharpening their pencil, the losing and finding their rubber, then run out of time to learn anything. The school have put this in place for a reason.

She's 8. Doesn't go very often when at home. They get 10 mins to eat and go to the toilet. Can't go into the toilet once in the yard. No food allowed in the yard. I am guessing 4 toilets for 200 children maybe? She does need to go to the toilet once every school day or she gets very uncomfortable.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumof3onetwothree · 02/02/2024 21:31

CherryPiePiePie · 02/02/2024 21:10

Be glad it’s a new rule, this has been a rule in my children’s school for years!

I understand why they are doing it but it's a pain 10 mins to eat and go to the toilet as no food allowed in the yard.

OP posts:
DeedlessIndeed · 02/02/2024 21:33

Wait, so she only has 10 minutes during the whole school day where she has to eat lunch AND queue with 400 other children to use the bathroom?

I'm not doubting you, but that just doesn't sound right.

Is there no morning or afternoon break? Or can she not go to the loo during her outdoor play time?

Original poster
Mumof3onetwothree · 02/02/2024 21:41

DeedlessIndeed · 02/02/2024 21:33

Wait, so she only has 10 minutes during the whole school day where she has to eat lunch AND queue with 400 other children to use the bathroom?

I'm not doubting you, but that just doesn't sound right.

Is there no morning or afternoon break? Or can she not go to the loo during her outdoor play time?

Yes that's right ten mins to eat and go to the toilet.

New rule. I'm guessing there will be complaints. I don't really want to be the one going in to complain though.

They have a short break earlier in the day when they go straight into the yard for 15 mins....possibly could go to the toilet on the way but she is anxious about asking.

Just want to figure out what is normal before I start asking the teacher about it.

OP posts:
MamaAlwaysknowsbest · 02/02/2024 21:44

This will be a total for how my child is treated, no matter who in authority put such rule

MamaAlwaysknowsbest · 02/02/2024 21:45

a total No

Sherrystrull · 02/02/2024 21:46

I would clarify with the teacher the timings and also how many children are sharing toilets. Obviously in a class there's usually 15 boys and 15 girls approximately.

bloodyhellKen22 · 02/02/2024 21:50

This doesn't sound right, especially for a primary school. Has this come in the form of communication from the school or from your child? I'm only asking as sometimes information can be misinterpreted. I'd understand if it was a "try to go to the toilet at break times and not in lessons", but a blanket ban seems harsh and cruel.

Alwaysalwayscold · 02/02/2024 21:53

That's not acceptable and I would be instructing my child to take herself to the toilet whether the teacher gives permission or not.

MadeOfAllWork · 02/02/2024 22:09

This seems a very short lunch break, including for the staff who need to eat, go to the loo and set up for the afternoon as well as have a break. I’d be complaining that 30 minutes is too short as well as the rule.

jannier · 02/02/2024 22:55

Sherrystrull · 02/02/2024 20:10

How many children and how many toilets share the same toilets? We have 60 girls sharing 3 toilets and they can all get through the toilets in ten mins.

2 mins each is a pretty fast wee no pooh time and god help any with early periods ....how do they all wash their hands in that time

Sherrystrull · 02/02/2024 22:59

I teach KS1. It's also easy to fit 3 round a sink to wash hands. Four classes wash their hands and go to the toilet during the ten minutes before lunch starts.

Mimami · 02/02/2024 23:13

Well you can still raise it with the school just as you are raising it here, the difference is the school can do something about it or at least explain their reasoning to you and hopefully listen to your point of view

CucumberBagel · 02/02/2024 23:15

Sherrystrull · 02/02/2024 22:59

I teach KS1. It's also easy to fit 3 round a sink to wash hands. Four classes wash their hands and go to the toilet during the ten minutes before lunch starts.

Can 3 fit on a toilet at the same time as well?

Marblessolveeverything · 02/02/2024 23:15

I'm in Ireland a few years ago a new teacher tried to introduce this . As parents we came together and said we would be advising our children to use the toilets when needed and if the teacher had an issue to contact us directly.

The principal agreed with us. I suggest a similar approach. As we advised the media campaign we had drafted was quite comprehensive.

I don't take any nonsense when it comes to basic human rights and my children. The teacher left at the end of the year.

Tulipvase · 02/02/2024 23:21

certainly doesn’t happen in my school. As it shouldn’t.

SparklyOwls · 02/02/2024 23:28

Wait, so 8 years olds only allowed to use toilet once in day?? What if they arrive to school needing toilet as been at breakfast club, they got to wait three hours?

I would be removing child from school! That is abuse.

Sherrystrull · 02/02/2024 23:37

@CucumberBagel

No. I was responding to a poster who asked how they washed their hands, clearly you're unfamiliar with large groups of children using toilet facilities at the same time. Washing hands generally takes longer than using the toilet, hence sharing sinks.