How many toilets should schools provide for pupils?
The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999’ for England and Wales specifies the minimum number of toilets (and washbasins) that pupils must have: • Pupils over 5 years of age: 1 toilet for every 20 pupils * • Pupils under the age of 5: 1 toilet for every 10 pupils • In special schools: 1 toilet for every 10 pupils, regardless of age Pupils’ ages are defined on the day before the start of the autumn term. E.g. if a pupil is 4 on that day, but turns 5 a few days later, the regulations would still count him/her as a 4 year old for the rest of the academic year. The accompanying guidance also states that more toilets may be needed if pupil visits are confined to periods of peak use. Note that urinals count when calculating numbers. For more information look, at printable factsheets ‘Legislation’ * The requirement in Northern Ireland for pupils over 5 years of age is 1 toilet for every 15 pupils.
