Primary school putting kids "in the naughty corner" if they need the toilet

Bitsy_Beans

In my sons class there are kids who try and frequent the toilet as an avoidance tactic (my son is one of them ) as such if they repeatedly ask to go requests are denied and theynare told to wait until break time or another suitable time. However I am surprised and dismayed that the school is actually punishing children who do need to use the toilet most teachers by now should have the gist of who is likely to genuinely need the toilet and who is a time waster and I think it's archaic to punish them for this. I am not sure Ofsted would be happy with this practice, nor the use of a naughty corner.
I agree that at this age the kids need to try practising some self control but I totally think it's wrong to punish.

I would complain direct to the head. If no joy then to the board of Governers and I would also be speaking to Ofsted.

Sparklyfairy

CHRISSYG wrote: »

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4088846/Disabled-girl-forced-to-clean-up-after-weeing-herself-in-school.html

OMG - That poor child! What is going on with schools?!? What else is happening that we aren't learning about?! They complained & the Govenors brushed it off - why? My dd's school head was right - the council will do nothing - in this case, that true! Vile school - so happy to see the family went to the papers with this story..I hope she's no longer a student there...x

milliebear00001

I haven't read all the other comments because threads like this almost always descend into teacher bashing, and I am one!

For what it's worth, I think very young children need to be allowed to go to the toilet when they need to, but should be 'encouraged' to go to the toilet at break and lunch - it is perfectly feasible for all children to visit the loo at these times - schools generally have several toilets!

An older child (such as your year 4 child) can be expected to take responsibility for going to the loo at appropriate times, unless there is a genuine reason not to - such as illness. I teach Y5 and would certainly expect children to avoid going during my teaching time.

Having said that, teachers usually get to know the children with weak bladders/those who will 'try it on' and those who are genuine. We will usually make allowances. My favourite weapon is to ask the child to come back and ask in five minutes (they usually forget if they don't really need to go) or I will (if I am suspicious of their motives) ask them to 'make up' the time at play.

Yes, going to the loo during the lesson can be very disruptive - esp. if it's 'open season' for all to go whenever they want. We do generally need something in place to try to prevent this. I would suggest (and would always suggest) that if you are unhappy with something occurring in your child's class, that you have a quiet, calm word with the class teacher in the first instance, and then, and only then, escalate to the Head if you are still unsatisfied with the response you get. This will 'mark you out' as a concerned parent, rather than a confrontational 'knee-jerker who doesn't bother to find out the facts - we get many of those, and as you say, they do become rather 'notorious' through the school.

Sparklyfairy

meritaten wrote: »

you go for it sparkly! everyone has the right to visit the toilet as 'needs must'. so much so, that even prison cells include toilets! to deny a child the right to use the toilet is awful! to PUNISH a child is even worse!
You have my full support here hun!

Thank you very much - it means a lot! x

thegirlintheattic

Sparklyfairy wrote: »

That's AWFUL, curlywurly:o . I cannot believe a senior school toilet would be locked - that's just wrong.

My dr offered to write a letter & I'm thinking I just might ask her to do one for me..x

Locking most of the toilets is common in secondary schools during lesson times - it reduces the places pupils bunking a lesson can hide. The only toilets open outside of break time are opposite the school office and in the PE block - where the entrance is within sight of an adult.

thegirlintheattic

milliebear00001 wrote: »

I haven't read all the other comments because threads like this almost always descend into teacher bashing, and I am one!

For what it's worth, I think very young children need to be allowed to go to the toilet when they need to, but should be 'encouraged' to go to the toilet at break and lunch - it is perfectly feasible for all children to visit the loo at these times - schools generally have several toilets!

An older child (such as your year 4 child) can be expected to take responsibility for going to the loo at appropriate times, unless there is a genuine reason not to - such as illness. I teach Y5 and would certainly expect children to avoid going during my teaching time.

Having said that, teachers usually get to know the children with weak bladders/those who will 'try it on' and those who are genuine. We will usually make allowances. My favourite weapon is to ask the child to come back and ask in five minutes (they usually forget if they don't really need to go) or I will (if I am suspicious of their motives) ask them to 'make up' the time at play.

Yes, going to the loo during the lesson can be very disruptive - esp. if it's 'open season' for all to go whenever they want. We do generally need something in place to try to prevent this. I would suggest (and would always suggest) that if you are unhappy with something occurring in your child's class, that you have a quiet, calm word with the class teacher in the first instance, and then, and only then, escalate to the Head if you are still unsatisfied with the response you get. This will 'mark you out' as a concerned parent, rather than a confrontational 'knee-jerker who doesn't bother to find out the facts - we get many of those, and as you say, they do become rather 'notorious' through the school.

I agree with this!

I'm a high school teacher and if you are not careful you'll have a stream of kids leaving your lesson because they 'need' to go. I also ask them wait 5 mins (unless they are desperate) and this generally stops the time wasters asking. I can also tell if a child is desperate or just trying to pull a fast one - those who are desperate are allowed to go.

make_me_wise

You have my full support to OP. I am on maternity leave currently but work as a year 3 teacher. The children in my class are 7-8 year olds. We do encourage them to use the toilet before school, during breaks and at lunchtimes and give them polite and respectful reminders.

As is common in a lot of classes now I have children who are autistic, have medical conditions and some have learning difficulties, others are completely able to look after themselves. Having a blanket rule, and such an archaic one as exists at your childs school, is just not workable and verges on being obscene. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that at the school where I work the kind of policy that applies at your childs school would not be permitted by our head teacher or carried out by my colleagues.

To teach is to imput knowledge into a child positively, not to inforce any area of learning by causing fear, upset or humiliation. If your child and others have been reduced to wetting themselves rather than asking their teacher to go to the toilet that is absolutely horrendous. Personally I could not do that to a child.

Sparklyfairy

milliesbear, don't worry - no teacher bashing here! This particular school's headteacher, um, maybe?

thegirlintheattic, I can understanding the bunkers hiding out in the loos in secondary schools, but surely there's a member of staff patrolling them? Having a loo locked when you're desperate for it is like a horrid nightmare. Wierd approach some schools are taking, methinks! Also, according to the link Vax added, it's illegal. Secondary schools have loads of students & must provide open,working & suitable toilets for all of them..

Sambucus_Nigra

milliebear00001 wrote: »

An older child (such as your year 4 child) can be expected to take responsibility for going to the loo at appropriate times, unless there is a genuine reason not to - such as illness. I teach Y5 and would certainly expect children to avoid going during my teaching time.

The child in question is 6 years old.

Sparklyfairy

make me wise, thank you very much!