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

balletshoes

Curlywurli wrote: »

That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard of and I've been working in a school for twelve years now. I would have complained too.

me too - I'd be insisting that this policy is revoked immediately (ie from tomorrow morning) and if I heard any more examples of it I'd be straight onto Ofsted, copying my letter of complaint to the Head Teacher and the board of Governors.

Its not often I advocate going over the chain of command at school so to speak, I much prefer to work with the school rather than against them, but really, I have never heard the likes of this :eek:!

Gingham_R

Nicki wrote: »

If they get 2 breaks and a lunch break though, like GIllyX has said, then they are never more than 90 minutes away from a toilet break. Which is a long time at age 6 if you need to go from the beginning of that time frame (but in that case they should go before going back into class). I'd be surprised if many kids of that age though couldn't last an hour from first faint urge to access to the loo..

I think many can wait an hour from the first faint urge. However, the first faint urge could easily have been BEFORE break. They often don't think to go to the loo till they're bursting.

Chakani

I'm wondering (because I can't believe that any school would sanction punishments for merely asking to go to the toilet, it sounds absurd) whether one or two members of the class have been sanctioned for asking too often, or using the excuse of asking for the toilet to be disruptive. Is it possible that this has happened, and that your daughter has assumed that will happen to her if she asks? If she is naturally a bit timid, it might well be the case? Maybe it is only a case of needing clarity from the teacher. I hope so anyway.

FloFlo

In the OP you said you've had a meeting with the head and they blame the teachers. What exactly did the head say? Did she say it is school policy or it isn't?

Sambucus_Nigra

Nicki wrote: »

You can't up and leave for the loo in the middle of a wedding/funeral, halfway down the motorway, if you are the teacher not the pupil, or in lots of workplace settings, so it does need to be taught like any other skill.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

No? The amount of times I've seen grown men peeing by the side of the road...or having to leave meetings...etc etc.

The kid is 6 - for heaven's sakes....

Sparklyfairy

Idiophreak wrote: »

Hmm, I actually wet myself in Year One because the teacher was punishing people who needed to go.

I'd forgotten about that til just now, thanks very much!

Lol - oops - soz!:o

MERFE

It doesnt surprise me, my DD has this problem every new school year she'll have an accident because she'll ask to go and be told to wait till break. Her teacher last year was a nightmare and didnt seem to learn from her mistake but this year one word from us that if she asks to go she really does need to go and she has been allowed. We did say its best to remind her on the way in from breaks if you dont want disruptions during the lesson because she forgets until the last minute. That is just what some people are like and when they need to go they need to go. People are let out of exams to go to the toilet because you can not concentrate when you need a wee so why have a class with kids that all they will be able to think about is holding it in, hardly productive. Plus its bad for you so unless its impossible you should be allowed to go when you need to.

Sparklyfairy

Chakani wrote: »

I'm wondering (because I can't believe that any school would sanction punishments for merely asking to go to the toilet, it sounds absurd) whether one or two members of the class have been sanctioned for asking too often, or using the excuse of asking for the toilet to be disruptive. Is it possible that this has happened, and that your daughter has assumed that will happen to her if she asks? If she is naturally a bit timid, it might well be the case? Maybe it is only a case of needing clarity from the teacher. I hope so anyway.

I agree - it does sound absurd. However, after discussing at length with my children, both of their classes had 4 in the naughty at 1 time. The teachers did confirm this when I asked saying "We want the kids to use the toilet during break times & if they ask within 10-20 minutes of returning to class, we tell them no. If they go out of the class to use the toilet anyway, they have to sit in the naughty corner." My daughter confirmed that yes, she had to use the toilet after her breaks but was afraid to ask for fear of getting into trouble like her friends & therefore had her accidents. She is very timid & will try to always do the right thing..

mrcow

As a teacher myself, I find this extremely disturbing. Toilet trips really are NOT that disruptive to a lesson. If it's the same kid all the time, then all the teacher has to do is remind them to go at break or even better, send them to the toilet after break/lunch if it's a problem.

Surely it's more disruptive to a lesson to have some poor 6 year old standing in the corner or even worse, soiling themselves?

OP - whoever made your child stand in the corner needs to be issuing a full and frank apology in the very least. I wouldn't settle for less. Who was it - the teacher or the teaching assistant? Is this an actual policy the school has adopted?

meritaten

er - doesnt this violate thier human rights? At one store where I worked (temp thank the lord), they tried to implement the policy that staff were not allowed to leave the shop floor, even for trips to the loo - this was quickly shot down in flames by the Union (USDAW - I think). So if your firm tries to stop you using the loo - they have no right to!
As for putting 6 yr olds in the naughty corner for needing the loo - words fail me! I cannot believe any teacher in their right mind would do so!
at secondary school - teachers would get a bit exasperated with pupils - but I dont remember one person being told they couldnt go! and my school was really tough!
I would write a letter of complaint to the Head teacher in the first instance - and CC it to the chair of Governers and the Head of the LEA - and here in Wales I would copy it to the Childrens Minister in the Assembly!