[name of MP, e.g. “Rt Hon Fred Bloggs, MP”]
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

Dear [name of MP, e.g. “Mr Bloggs”]

Bog Standard – Better toilets for pupils

[Explain who you are, e.g. parent of a Year 7 pupil or health professional]. I am concerned about the affects of substandard school toilets on children’s health and welfare, and I am writing to request your help in tackling this.

Many adults are unaware of the extent of problems surrounding school toilets, which are faced by pupils every day. These include:
1. Dirty, smelly toilets in a bad state of repair and with inadequate supplies of toilet paper, soap and hot water
2. Lack of privacy – doors that don’t lock, cubicles that can be peered over or under easily, urinals that can be viewed from outside the toilet area
3. Bullies and/or smokers hanging out in the toilets
4. Restricted access to toilets – only being allowed to go at break or not enough time allowed to go
5. Toilets inconveniently located and/or not accessible to pupils, including those with special needs

Many pupils will not use, or are reluctant to use the toilets at schools because of these issues. This can lead to poor drinking and toileting practices which can result in a number of health problems, such as:

1. Not drinking enough and becoming dehydrated can cause headaches, fatigue and poorer concentration as well as bladder and bowel problems, urinary and kidney infections.
2. Drinking most of their fluid intake when they get home, which can result in bedwetting.
3. Not going to the toilet when they need to can result in wetting problems, urinary and kidney infections, constipation and soiling.

Adults in the workplace, including teachers, have the right, in law, to a clean, private toilet with hot and cold running water, and soap. Pupils have no such law to protect them. However, under article 5 of the Human Rights Declaration:

‘”No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

In addition, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child “reinforces fundamental human dignity” and “seeks respect for children”. I believe that not allowing children access to a private, well-maintained toilet (and not allowing them to go when they need to) is an infringement of their human rights.

I would also like toilets to be included in Ofsted inspections. The common criteria against which inspectors make their judgements is the extent to which "the accommodation allows the curriculum to be taught effectively." I feel that without clean, well-supervised toilets which children are permitted to access when they need to, the accommodation is failing on this point.

I would like to see children’s rights protected by legislation and respectfully ask you to do one or more of the following:

I would like to see children’s rights protected by legislation and enforced by inspection and respectfully ask you to do one or more of the following:

• Write to the Secretary of State for Health
• Write to the Secretary of State for Education
• Make an appointment to see the Secretary of State for Health
• Make an appointment to see the Secretary of State for Education

I enclose a document that provides further information [print out the fact sheet for journalists]

Thank you for your attention. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

[your name]