A primary concern

The very young are among the most vulnerable people in our society. Not only are they are particularly prone to infections and viruses, they are also easily frightened. And yet at an early age we send them off to school or nursery where the toilet provision is basic, unregulated and sometimes frankly unpleasant.

Loose hand towels left on the units to become wet and soggy; dirty roller towels; loose toilet rolls that have been thrown around or put down the loo – all are familiar sights in the school toilet.

 

What's the score?

The Department of Education stipulates that boys and girls aged eight and over should have separate washrooms. There should be washing facilities either within or near each toilet and the facilities should be adequately ventilated, well lit and for the sole use of pupils. The regulations for adult workplace toilets are much more rigorous and include rulings on minimum numbers of cubicles and hand basins per employee.

It is therefore not surprising that the widely-used Netmums website for UK mothers contains many stories about small children who are embarrassed to use the unisex facilities at school; scared of bullies in the toilets or simply reluctant to use facilities that are messy and dirty.

Where toilet regulation is lax, hygiene standards often suffer. The Bog Standard campaign confirms that the standard of school toilets in the UK is an ongoing problem. The campaign was launched in 2004 by Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence to address the issue.

According to ERIC, many pupils avoid using the toilets at school because they are dirty, smelly places that lack basic provisions. Sometimes school toilets are not sufficiently private and their use is restricted to break times only. But this can result in medical conditions such as chronic constipation, incontinence and urinary infections, ERIC says.

It makes sense to provide light, bright and attractive toilets with working locks and adequate supplies of consumables. This will attract children back to the washrooms and make them a reassuring place to "go".

 

Admittedly it is often the children themselves who cause some of the problems. Toilet rolls or soap bars may be thrown around or put down the loo by unruly pupils, for example. Small children are inclined to dirty their hands more readily than adults, and grubby hands will quickly make soap bars and roller towels grimy. Primary or nursery school toilets should be equipped with consumables that prevent such issues occurring.

 

Leading by example

Hand towel and toilet tissue dispensers that are lockable, easy to clean and that give out sheets singly will address the issues of vandalism and cross-contamination. They will also enhance the look of the washroom since soggy toilet rolls and clumps of hand towels on the units will no longer be an issue.

Dispensers that are designed to control usage help to prevent the problem of soap, toilet tissue and hand towels running out in busy break or lunch periods – a factor that could put a child off visiting the toilet again. Units with built-in consumption control will also reduce costs and waste which means they can help schools to meet their budget and sustainability targets.

Dispensers should be easy to use so that even small children can access them, and the products inside should be user-friendly. Tork Extra Mild Foam Soap, for instance, is gentle on the hands and will not sting the eyes and is housed in a dispenser that has been purpose-designed to be easy to use, even by children with low hand strength. Units with an air freshener system will keep the washrooms smelling pleasant so that children are encouraged to use them.

ERIC has been looking at ways in which schools can improve their own toilet facilities. These include school fund-raising schemes to pay for lock repairs and to provide adequate supplies of soap. 

But a cohesive system of dispensers and refills that help to prevent over-use and waste will pay for itself in the long run. And since such a system will also improve the look of a school washroom and prevent supplies from running out, it will dramatically improve the school toilet experience for vulnerable young pupils.