PARENTS are fuming after a school penalised pupils for taking toilet breaks in class time.

Bellbridge Primary pupils were “fined” and made to stay late during their break if they needed the loo outside lunchtime or recess breaks.

The fines were paid from pretend currency received through the Hoppers Crossing school’s “earn and learn” program.

Used to teach the value of working and earning money, the pretend money is saved to buy rewards such as a ticket to an end-of-term movie or smaller treats.

Mother-of-two Elisa Walker said penalising children for wanting to go to the toilet during class time was “ridiculous” and led to accidents.

“It’s their basic needs. They get fined, they lose their money, which they save for special things,” she said.

“Some of them have been known to wet themselves.”

Her daughter, Grace, 8, in grade 3, was kept back a few minutes at lunchtime as a penalty for a class-time toilet trip.

Mrs Walker said it might have been designed as a way of stopping children going to the toilet “all the time”, but her daughter was not in that group.

Mother-of-three Danielle Henderson was furious her grade 5 daughter, Lauren, 11, had been similarly fined $50 of “earn and learn” money.

Ms Henderson said: “There will always be kids who use the toilet as an excuse to get out of work, but they’re the kids who should be targeted, not the whole class.”

She had spoken to other parents whose children had paid for going to the loo.

The price of “spending a penny” ranged from $10 and up to $50 of their “earn and learn” money, she said.

Dangers of holding your urine Holding in urine can have sever health issues like bladder infection and kidney disease. Courtesy The Drs

Bellbridge Primary principal Debbie Clancy said that on Monday morning, as soon as she became aware of the practice, she put a stop to it.

“Of course, our students are free to go to the toilet whenever they need — and we would never stop a child from going to the toilet during class time, or penalise them for doing so,” she said.

“A small number of classes have deducted points earned in the ‘earn and learn’ system as a way to discourage children from using the toilet during class time,” Ms Clancy said.

“As this does not fit in with our positive approach, this no longer occurs at our school.”

Department of Education and Training spokesman Stuart Teather said students must always be allowed to use toilets when needed.

“The department will work with Bellbridge PS on implementing effective, positive techniques to encourage children to use the toilets during their breaks where possible,” Mr Teather said.

kathryn.powley@news.com.au

Twitter: @kathrynpowley