The Water is Cool in School Campaign aims to improve the quality of provision and access to fresh drinking water for children in UK primary and secondary schools.

The reasons for the campaign

The medical profession has been telling us for many years that children do not drink enough during the school day - and that the resulting dehydration contributes to a number of short and long-term health problems.

In order to find out more about the water situation in schools, Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC), in conjunction with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, carried out a survey of drinking facilities in primary and secondary schools in two education districts.

The results published in the Nursing Times, 5th October 2000, revealed that drinking facilities and access to water in many British schools were highly unsatisfactory:

In response to these findings, the Water is Cool in School Campaign was launched in October 2000, with a press launch at the House of Commons in March 2001.

The aims of the Campaign

• To increase public awareness of the health benefits to children of drinking good levels of water regularly during the school day
• To improve the quality of provision and access to fresh drinking water in primary and secondary schools
• To obtain comprehensive legislation on drinking facilities in schools

The Campaigners

ERIC is the UK children's charity that provides support and information on childhood bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis), daytime wetting, constipation and soiling for children and young people, parents and health professionals as well as incontinence in children with special needs.

Campaign activities

• Producing campaign materials and guidance documents to support schools, parents and health professionals
• Lobbying Government and key decision-makers about the importance of good access to drinking water in schools
• Contacting key organisations and individuals to make them aware of the issues and the Campaign
• Working with local health and education organisations to encourage them to set up regional water initiatives
• Encouraging Coordinators of the Healthy School Standard to take up the provision of water in schools
• Appointed by the Department of Health to research and guide the Food In Schools Water Provision Project

Survey Results 2003

In 2003, in order to evaluate the effects of the Water is Cool in School Campaign and to evaluate the state of school toilets and access for pupils, the Community Practitioner's and Health Visitors Association (an organisation representing over half of school nurses in the UK), in co-ordination with ERIC, carried out a random survey of primary and secondary schools across the UK

The results from 928 schools in 70 LEAs show a huge improvement in the provision of water in schools since the start of the Campaign, but there is still some poor practice. For the majority of primary schools, drinking water in lessons and throughout the school day is now commonplace (water bottles in the classroom are permitted (29%) or encouraged (48%) in 78% of the primary schools surveyed). In secondary schools, there has been more attitudinal resistance from staff to improving water facilities and consumption (as a result water bottles in the classroom drops to 48%, with 17% encouraged and 31% permitted). Plumbed in water coolers and chilled modern fountains with a swan neck are increasing in popularity. Taps (in 21% of schools) and traditional water fountains (in 38% of schools), are, however, still the most prevalent water facilities and are still most frequently sited in the toilet area (84%) - both facilities and location are poor practice. 22% of secondaries did not provide any water at lunchtimes. Three schools did not allow any access to drinking water at any point during the day.

Funding

We have reconsidered our policy on refusing sponsorship in light of our need for funding in order to maintain the campaign and because we believe that we have found a water cooler company that meets the campaign's standards.

Official Sponsor

Premier Watercoolers is one of the UK's largest and fastest growing independent suppliers of mains-fed drinking water dispensers. Premier has more than 500 dispensers in schools nationwide and has been endorsed by the Health Education Trust for the standard of equipment and service provision it provides to schools.

Premier Watercoolers

17 Ash
Kembrey Park
Swindon
SN2 8UN

T: +44 (0)1793 544 800
F: +44 (0)1793 521 226
E: enquiries@watercoolers.co.uk
W: www.watercoolers.co.uk