Require schools to let children use the toilet at all times in the school day

Make it mandatory for schools to allow students to go to the toilet at all times throughout the school day when they need to and do not lock toilets so that they aren’t accessible during certain times of the day.

We believe some children’s mental and physical health is being affected by not allowing them to access a toilet during school lessons and even break times. We think some children are limiting how much they drink during the day so they don’t have to go to toilet and some girls are struggling with menstruation where access to use the toilet may be denied to them during certain times of the day. We think children are being punished for using the toilet when they need to. We're concerned that this can happen in the year 2025.

The government does not have any plans to update or amend the guidance. It is for school leaders to develop and implement a policy that works for their own schools and school community, including on toilet use.

All schools must be mindful of their duty of care responsibilities to pupils and ensure that individual circumstances are fully considered, and any health issues are fully taken into account when reaching decisions of this nature.

All schools must adhere to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The employer in a school must take reasonable steps to ensure that staff and pupils are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.

The advice on standards for school premises (2015) is clear that suitable toilet and washing facilities must be provided for the sole use of pupils. It is for schools to find reasonable ways, in accordance with the law, to ensure every child’s right to access clean and safe toilet facilities when they need them:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/410294/Advice_on_standards_for_school_premises.pdf

In cases where parents or children may have concerns, they should speak to their school in the first instance. Where parents or children are dissatisfied with the school’s response, a formal complaint with the school may be lodged.

Department for Education This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/731355)