Archive for the ‘Partner Organisations’ Category

February16

From our Partner – ERIC (Bog Standard Campaign)

By: Sally Page

Thank you if you have signed ERIC’s Bog Standard petition to improve school toilets. Comments on the petition reaffirm that dirty and poorly maintained toilets are a problem for children across the country. We have received 845 signatures so far and we’re still going strong, please keep passing the petition to your friends and help us reach our target. http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/bogstandard

 We must act now to show we will not stand for children forced to use disgusting, smelly and unhygienic school toilets lacking toilet paper and soap and with no minimum standards. While adults have staff toilets governed by regulations.

 On 28th February 2012, ERIC will be going to central London to campaign against the government’s proposed changes to school toilet legislation. Please join us.

 If you have an hour to spare mid morning on 28th February in London, please come and support the campaign. For more information, please email Natasha@eric.org.uk – we need as many people as possible!

 We need to raise £500 to cover the cost of the campaign. If you are unable to attend but would like to support us, please donate £3 (or whatever you can) by texting LOOS12 £3 70070 or visit http://www.eric.org.uk/GetInvolved/donate_online  

 A further update…

 The Government has proposed scrapping the specific provisions on toilets in the School Premises Regulations. This would mean no substantive regulation for pupils, whose facilities would not have to meet consistent and clearly defined standards.

 The Workplace Regulations (1992) ensure that toilet and water facilities used by staff in schools meet proper standards, but they do not cover facilities used by pupils. Pupils have to make do with stipulations in the School Premises Regulations (1999), which fall well short of the same standards.

 ERIC and the PCF (Paediatric Continence Forum) have submitted formal responses to the regulations’ consultation (over 80 responses were received in total) and over the next few weeks, ministers will consider these responses and decide how to alter the regulations.

 Some progress has been made with 27 MPs backing a motion tabled by Valerie Vaz MP calling for the Government to rethink their plans. Meetings with the Department for Education are ongoing and a number of parliamentarians have raised the issue with Michael Gove and Andrew Lansley. ERIC and the PCF will continue to meet MPs and peers to raise the profile of this issue further.

 It would be great to see you in London on 28th February! Thank you for your support.

 Best regards,

Natasha

Natasha Collins-Daniel

Education and Media Manager

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Direct line: 0117 301 2103 and 24/7 Helpline: 0845 370 8008

Websites: www.eric.org.uk / www.bog-standard.org

Posted in: News, Partner OrganisationsComments Off comments

January4

Are children entitled to have clean school toilets?

By: Sally Page

The answer to this, it would sadly seem, is no.

It appears there are no regulations in place to ensure minimum standards of toilet facilities for school children.  Whilst there is legislation in place to cover the number of toilets and handbasins that have to be provided (School Premises Regulations 1999), that legislation does not say that they have to be clean.  It doesn’t say that there has to be hot water or soap, or toilet seats, or lockable doors….

At present, the Government is proposing to revise even the small amount of stipulations that do exist – taking away the standards governing the number of facilities that have to be provided.

Our Partner, ERIC’s Bog Standard Campaign, is campaigning against these proposed revisions, and continues to campaign for improved legislation covering school toilets.  This would mean that amongst other things:-

  • the 23% of schools that don’t provide hot water would have to do so
  • the 31% of schools that don’t give the children soap to wash their hands with would have to do so
  • the 40% of Primary Schools that don’t provide sanitary bins for older girls would have to make them available

(taken from a survey carried out by school nurses in 2003 on behalf of the Community Practitioners & Health Visitors Association)

Please do one small thing that could vastly improve the Health & Wellbeing of many, many schoolchildren – click on the link below and sign the petition.

https://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/bogstandard

 Thank You

Posted in: Partner Organisations, Questionnaires and SurveysComments Off comments

October24

From our Partner – Bog Standard

By: Sally Page

Win a storyteller visit and other great prizes for your school!

To celebrate World Toilet Day on 19th November 2011, all entries for a School Toilet Award will be entered into a prize draw to win exciting prizes including a storyteller visit and signed book sets by authors including Michael Morpurgo and Steve Cole. Prizes will be suitable for primary and secondary schools. 

Schools that provide good standard toilets that meet the needs of their pupils can gain an award to recognise and celebrate their achievement. The School Toilet Award is open to every primary and secondary school, including special schools, maintained and non-maintained, in the UK as well as to British schools overseas. Schools can apply for the Award online or by post. There is no cost to schools – entry and support materials are free. For more information visit  http://www.bog-standard.org/award_home.php

Posted in: News, Partner Organisations0 comments

August31

Newsletter 31/08/10

By: Sally Page

Our latest Newsletter – Global Handwashing Day Special – is now available.

Click on the link below to view in your browser, with active links

Posted in: Newsletters, Partner Organisations0 comments

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