Nursery World - Let's raise a glass in the school classroom

Nickie Brander first became concerned at the lack of drinking facilities in schools when her daughter, Cara, who is now nine, first started school. She was coming home feeling over-tired and suffering from headaches. Her urine was dark and concentrated. Cara's family doctor said that she was suffering from dehydration. Nickie is now co-ordinator of 'Water is Cool in School', a national campaign to persuade schools to increase the availability of drinking water. The campaign was launched last year by the Enuresis Resource and Information Centre (ERIC), which advises on bed-wetting and related problems. Perhaps surprisingly, one cure for bed-wetting is to drink more, not less.

Nickie is now co-ordinator of 'Water is Cool in School', a national campaign to persuade schools to increase the availability of drinking water. The campaign was launched last year by the Enuresis Resource and Information Centre (ERIC), which advises on bed-wetting and related problems. Perhaps surprisingly, one cure for bed-wetting is to drink more, not less.

A survey of 192 schools by researchers at the University of Leeds, published by Yorkshire Water last month, found that 42 per cent of pupils did not have access to drinking water during the school day. Of those who did, 44 per cent could only obtain a drink from the toilet area.

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