Creating school toilet rules that are fair to students

Everyone needs to use the toilet. That’s something everyone can agree on too, but when it comes to regulating toilet breaks for students, it gets more complicated.

Toilet rules are a bigger issue in some schools than others. Across Australian schools, stricter toilet rules are often introduced in response to issues around student behaviour — including vandalism, loitering, and vaping. Toilet vandalism and loitering can negatively impact students and staff, and creating rules that counter those issues while remaining fair isn’t always easy.

So, how can teachers ensure that students have access to this basic need without sacrificing too much class time?

How often should students need to use the toilet?

The short answer is 3 to 6 times a day. The long answer is that it varies on age and other health factors.

Younger students have to go more often, and female students may need more frequent trips. Many girls begin their menstrual cycles in upper primary or secondary school and this transitory period may require more trips to the toilet than usual as they navigate this change. 

“Female students are distinctly disadvantaged by restrictive bathroom policies and the lack of free and easily available menstrual products in school bathrooms,” Nebel, PhD, director of scientific programs at the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR), said.

The SWHR’s survey uncovered that three-quarters of school nurses had students with bladder or bowel problems. Holding in urine for excessive amounts of time can weaken bladder muscles and lead to health issues like urinary tract infections. It’s not just students who face these issues either; around a quarter of school nurses said that staff want better toilet access.

Toilet laws for schools

The most common issues with school toilets usually involve one of two things. First, students that take toilet breaks for too long and too frequently, or do something else entirely during the break. The second is misbehaviour in the toilet and vandalism. 

Toilet rules were an issue that I remember dealing with as a student. The toilets were sometimes unsafe and occasionally vandalised. It was a frustrating experience; I felt overly restricted from using the toilet when I needed it, yet I knew why toilet breaks were regulated because I saw what happened. When I taught in that same district years later, this feeling was oddly familiar from the other side.

Ultimately, toilet rules vary depending on the school you’re in–if there’s any at all. Many schools use systems like toilet passes that restrict the number of times students can take toilet breaks in a day.

Classroom toilet rules I use to minimise disruption

Ultimately, unless a student has additional needs, you’re on your own when it comes to toilet rules. It can be a difficult task that varies on the age and needs of your students, but hopefully, some of the following ideas can help!

1) One student at a time

One of the easiest ways to prevent loitering in the toilet is to limit the number of students who are there at once. Letting one student go at a time can make a big difference. Some teachers allow two students to go if they’re using different toilets, such as a male and female toilet pass, but this depends on any preexisting rules or facilities your school has.

It’s important to give some kind of notice or visual aid for toilet breaks. This lets students know whether someone else is already using their break and if they can go, and it’s helpful for students in schools that require some sort of hall pass.

2) Passes and visual aids

Toilet passes can be anything! You can make different ones for different needs, such as for certain toilets or ones on certain floors. Printing and laminating passes are often the most accessible option.

Some tips and tricks for your toilet pass:

• Use a hole puncher to string a lanyard through the pass. You can use the lanyard to hang it by the door of the classroom, and it’s a great way for students to keep them visible and easily carry them.
• An old trick for frequently missing passes is the same trick that gas stations use for toilet keys: put the pass on something large and obnoxious. I can still remember some of the more creative ‘toilet passes’ my teachers used. I’ve seen large key rings with plushie keychains and jingling bells, or small paddle boards painted in bright colours. Get creative!

A good visual alternative or addition to a hall pass is putting up a tap light by the door or where the pass is displayed. Students tap the light on when they leave and tap it off when they return. It’s a quiet, easy reminder of when students can go next and establish a routine.

3) Set positive expectations for younger students

Timing toilet breaks is something adults have to do every day, whether it’s working them around work, home, and other tasks. Younger students are still navigating that skill, so it’s important to help them develop healthy habits and expectations that’ll help them in older year levels.

Make sure to explain your classroom toilet rules and give students a chance to ask any questions about them. Don’t shy away from questions about using the toilet. Not all students can get these answers at home, and it’s important to establish what’s normal and healthy. 

Discuss what times are best to take toilet breaks (if they can wait). For example, waiting until after the lesson instructions are given or going during quiet work time. If you’re using a toilet pass system, tell them why students take turns and how to know when it’s their turn.

If young students are taking a lot of toilet breaks, check in with a school nurse or student welfare officer so they can identify any possible health issues that could be causing it.

4) Period poverty and hygiene products 

When I was a student, everyone knew of a teacher who would help you if you needed something embarrassing — like tampons, floss, and even lotion. I was at a school that faced significant funding challenges and many teachers had to buy their own classroom supplies. Many stocked up on the things their students often needed but couldn’t get at home.

This isn’t unique to any one school or community. According to Good360’s Hygiene Poverty Report, over four million Australians are currently living in hygiene poverty. Most schools don’t stock hygiene products in the toilets; they tell students to go to the school nurse or student welfare officer, but that’s if they’re lucky enough to have one readily available. With health workforce pressures across Australia, many schools rely on student support staff to fill this gap.

Some schools are working to have menstrual products available, but there are still plenty of things you can do to help students with their period. Keeping a drawer, box, or kit for your students can make a major impact on their lives.

Things to add to your kit:

• Pads, ideally a mixture of heavy and regular flow ones, and/or winged and unwinged.
• Disposable sanitary wipes or baby wipes (not hand sanitising wipes, but those are good to have too)
• Tampons and liners (these may be less popular than the pads, but students may use them).
• Consider making individual menstrual kits.

Your kit or drawer can also include hygiene products for any student who may lack access to them, such as bobby pins, disposable toothbrushes or mini mouthwash, plasters, hair ties, mini deodorants, contacts cases and solution, safety pins, and granola bars.

Toilet rules will look different for every class, but taking time to address this basic need with your students can go a long way in making your classroom feel safer and welcoming. For additional guidance in managing classrooms and rules, check our other articles on classroom management.

References

1. Church, E., (2023). School Nurses Face ‘Perfect Storm’ as Numbers Dwindle. Nursing Times [online]. Available at: https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/public-health/school-nurses-face-perfect-storm-as-numbers-dwindle-13-04-2023/  [Accessed 11th July 2024]. 
2. Cooney, C., (2022). Many Skip Work Over Hygiene Poverty Shame, Charity Says. BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63403823  [Accessed 11th July 2024]. 
3. SWHR. (2018). Survey of School Nurses Reveals Lack of Bathroom Policies and Bladder Health Education – SWHR. [online] Available at: https://swhr.org/survey-of-school-nurses-reveals-lack-of-bathroom-policies-and-bladder-health-education/.
4. Breunlin, E. (2024). Need to use the bathroom during class? At this Colorado school, students must first show their ID. [online] The Colorado Sun. Available at: https://coloradosun.com/2024/03/12/colorado-school-bathroom-policy-eagle-ridge-academy-brighton/ [Accessed 5 Apr. 2024].
5. Tate, A. (2019). Should teachers be allowed to limit students’ bathroom use? [online] TODAY.com. Available at: https://www.today.com/parents/should-schools-limit-bathroom-passes-students-t150088.
6. Good360 Australia. (2024). Hygiene Poverty in Australia Impact Report 2024. Available at: https://good360.org.au/good-news/disturbing-report-4m-aussies-hygiene-poverty/ [Accessed 11 July 2024].
7. SWHR. (2018). Survey of School Nurses Reveals Lack of Bathroom Policies and Bladder Health Education – SWHR. [online] Available at: https://swhr.org/survey-of-school-nurses-reveals-lack-of-bathroom-policies-and-bladder-health-education/.
8. Mercy Health. (n.d.). Child Incontinence: FAQs. [online] Available at: https://www.mercy.net/service/child-incontinence/faqs/.