An assessment to establish the current state of school toilets across Wales will address issues surrounding health, hygiene and safety, Labour’s Education Minister Jane Hutt said today.
The Minister agreed to a review following recommendations made by the Enterprise and Learning Committee in their report on arrangements for school funding. Although responsibility for the provision of adequate and sufficient toilet facilities for pupils rests with the Local Education Authorities the Minister said that the Welsh Assembly Government will oversee the evaluation and will ensure that it includes an appropriate inspection of facilities.
Jane Hutt said: “I expect all schools across Wales to make certain that quality facilities and high standards of hygiene in school toilets are in place. I share the concerns raised in the ‘Lifting the Lid’ report by the Children’s Commissioner in Wales and the recent Estyn report on “Food and Fitness in Schools. The Assembly Government is working closely with the WLGA and the Association of Directors of Education to assess the arrangements in place in Local Educations Authorities and within schools so that appropriate toilet facilities are available for pupils. Given the importance of the issue, we will give direction to ensure that any shortcomings are addressed.
“We want school toilet facilities that are suitable quality for the 21st Century. Where facilities are found to be inadequate the Assembly Government will monitor the situation to ensure that the necessary improvements are made.”
