Shared Toilets

[Guest]

As I posted recently I am having a few building prob's (I'll update you on progress soon).

 

But another query - does anyone out there have to share the toilets with other users or the public.

 

this has been suggested by my local LEA and I have been told it is possible just need to change my practice.

 

How does this work, how do you do it safely, how do you prevent escapees, and what about accidents with lots of cleaning up required?

 

Sorry loads of questions.

[Guest]

Our situation is that we occupy two halls, linked together by a small corridor, off of which the toilets are situated.

 

One day per week, one of the halls is used by the local stroke club. Therefore the children are unable to have free access to the toilets.

 

We have to ensure that the door into our hall in locked and when the children want to go, we have to escort them, stay with them and upon return to the hall lock the door again. It is a real pain in the bum, but we cope.

 

We have to ensure that the men close the door into their toilet when using the urinal and we sometimes ask the ladies if they could use the disabled toilet rather than the ones we use. We ensure that the children can have their privacy by using door stoppers.

 

If children need changing we try and be as descreet as possible so that they on not on display to others, shielding them with our own bodies or taking them into one of the toilets.

 

All I can say is that I am glad it is only once a week and not permanent as this would become a real chore and I would feel sorry for anyone who had to do this all the time.

[Rea]

I could be wrong, my memory of the standards is rusty, but isnt there something about ratio of toilets to children? Would that be affected? But then I supose if the LEA have said it ok then who am I to question?

[Guest]

our situation we use a main hall and coffee lounge (for lunch) which are connected by a kitchen.

 

The toilets are situated in the foyer. so to get to the toilets, go out the hall - into the foyer (pass the front door that will be open) and into the toilets.

 

2 toilets, 2 basins and not alot of space.

 

really worried about how I would stop children escaping when toileting.

Spoke to Ofsted I need to send the proposal to them and risk asses it for problems.....and how I would deal with them.

 

any thoughts on what to include

[Guest]

ratio for toilets is 1 for every 10 children. A group that I know have a walkie talkie that they have to take with them when the adult accompanies the children to the toliets, this enables them to call on other staff members if required. They too go passed an unlocked door. In answer to your question about risk assesment you do know what to include, the children escaping, the possibility of accidents and how you deal with that, eg call on another member of staff via walkie talkie to accompany children back to room, while you clear up the mess. Taking children in small groups only asyou would for an outing to ensure that they don't escape. Hope that this helps.