Toilet Protocols
At St Mary’s, we emphasise the importance of minimising lost learning time, as this can directly impact academic achievement—lost learning time equates to lost grades.
General Expectations
Pupils are encouraged to use the toilet at the following times:
- Before school
- Break time
- Lunchtime
- After school
During Lesson Time
- Toilet use during lessons is discouraged unless there is an emergency, or a pupil has a medical pass.
- Pupils without a pass should wait until after the first ten minutes of the lesson, as this is when registration, direct instruction, and retrieval activities take place, which are crucial for learning.
- In emergencies, staff will provide a permission slip for pupils to access the toilet.
Medical Passes
- Pupils with a medical pass issued by a doctor are recorded on the SIMS system, ensuring appropriate access when required.
Time Limit
- Pupils must not be out of the lesson for longer than 20 minutes. Exceeding this time frame will trigger an internal truancy alert and appropriate follow-up.
Safeguarding Concerns
- Truanting in toilets (e.g., using a phone or meeting others) is a serious safeguarding concern. St Mary’s has a zero-tolerance policy for such behaviour.
- Staff are vigilant and will not allow situations that compromise the safety or integrity of the school environment. Any issues of this nature will be addressed swiftly and firmly through the behaviour policy.
Inclusive Support
- All staff are trained in adaptive teaching, ensuring lessons are accessible for all pupils.
- The SEND team is available to support any pupil who may need additional assistance or accommodations.
