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

vax2002

This is covered by the The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999
Toilets must be provided for children WHEN REQUIRED to refuse or to restrict times is a breech of the regulations.
http://www.atl.org.uk/health-and-safety/work-environment/standards-education-premises.asp

I think a lot would be surprised what goes on behind locked doors, they did not lock strangers out, they locked themselves in !

Sparklyfairy

Hanging by a thread - thanks, your post means a lot. I will say it did get somewhat heated as the head would ask a question, I'd start to answer, then she'd talk over me resulting in both of us getting louder. It was away from earshot of anyone (school was virtually empty) but I think she clearly wasn't expecting to be discussing this as she darted from point to point without any clear answer & surely didn't want to hear what I had to say.

Honeydog

I can tell when kids genuinely need to go to the toilet. And I let them. You can't concentrate if you need the loo badly. If they ask within 10 mins of breaktime they'll get the comment " You know you should really go at break" as a reminder but I do let them go.

Sparklyfairy

**curlywurly** wrote: »

When I was at senior school I had a condition which meant that I had to go to the toilet when I needed to, sometimes outside of breaktime. The school toilets were LOCKED and out of bounds except during breaks.

My GP had to write to the headteacher to get this policy changed.

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

Sparklyfairy

Mrcow - that's the sensible approach! My eyes are well & truly opened now, unfortunately & as upset as I am for my children (especially the youngest) I'm also sad that this school that I believed was so great is actually so shoddy.

Vax, cheers for that - I'll take a look in a bit. x

Honeydog - I thought they did this, but clearly not. =(

daska

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

For an adult, that's a fairly silly thing to say, whatever the rights and wrongs are for young children.

Is it?

Why?

Sparklyfairy

Artichoke - yes the elusive school nurse! Actually we have a new one & I shall call her tomorrow, great point & I hope you & your lo aren't having anymore hassle like this anymore x

skipsmum

Nicki wrote: »

As for adults using the toilet at will at work, that depends on the job. I've never seen a newsreader interrupt the news for a loo break, a vicar interrupt a church service, a doctor leave a consultation or a barrister leave court. Shop workers aren't usually allowed to leave the shop floor and factory workers can't leave the production line. Bus and train drivers don't park up for a wee.

Newsreaders, vicars, shop workers, factory workers, bus and train drivers...hardly the same as 6 year old children!

Honeydog

Sparklyfairy - I suggest you write a letter to the Chair of Governors if you don't get any joy from the teachers/head.

Good luck.

balletshoes

Nicki wrote: »

To be clear on what I am saying, I do not think the school should force a child to wet themselves, just that it is acceptable to encourage the children to use their breaks for this purpose, and to be cross with them if they clearly chose not to for whatever reason. And that I don't agree an acceptable reason is the desire to use the toilet block in total privacy. A child of 6, if shy about this, should be encouraged to get over that timidity, as most public toilets are not single occupancy, and it is very life limiting not to be able to use a toilet cubicle in a bank.

If 6 is too young to begin teaching the concept that you should use the toilet facilities when they are available and to hand, and not interrupt a class for a toilet break unless it is urgent, what age is more acceptable, given that adults do need to be able to ordinarily exercise some scheduling and control in this area?

Can I ask then, do you think its reasonable for 6-year olds to be put in the naughty corner because they have asked to go, and gone, to the toilet in classtime? I don't, and thats the issue I would have if it was happening in my DDs primary school, and especially at ages 4-6. I think in the children's shoes, I'd be doing exactly what the OP's daughter has done - not asking to go to the toilet even though its urgent and you need to go, because you get punished for it, and so end up having an accident in class and getting upset about that too. Its a terrible way to try to re-inforce a policy in my opinion, the children can't win whatever they do. They're not learning to go to the toilet (they should, at that age, be reminded by their teacher/class assistant as they go off for breaktime/lunchtime), they're learning to be afraid to ask their teacher for what they need for fear of being punished.

The most strict teacher I ever had throughout my schooldays was my primary 1-2 teacher, she was a dragon. But even she let us go out to the toilet if we needed to and put our hands up and asked.