PARENTS have reacted with outrage after a primary school in Aveley banned children from drinking anything but water.

A letter was sent to parents in lunchboxes from Kenningtons Academy two weeks ago saying “children do not need to bring a drink with their packed lunch as water is provided.”

Parent Alan Marks said he and other parents were “sick to death” of the new rules and this time, the school had gone too far.

He said: “I don’t have a problem with banning fizzy drinks. It’s the fact that they’ve banned flavouring in the water or juice. My son does not and will not drink plain water.

“If the school was truly worried about children’s health, they would not be feeding them with junk food from the canteen such as burgers, fish fingers and chips.

“It’s hypocritical and it is unhealthy for the school to stop a child from taking a drink all day as this will cause kidney infections.”

Another parent, who did not wish to be named, said: “My daughter is frightened to have her drink in her packed lunch because she says she will be told off so my daughter is not drinking all day, which cannot be healthy for her.

“I can understand them not wanting fizzy drinks but I agree with other parents that stopping a flavouring in a water-based drink is utterly ridiculous.”

A letter from head teacher Jo Sawtell-Haynes to one parent said “a dislike of plain water was not sufficient grounds to permit flavourings.”

The letter added: “Given the choice a vast majority of children would choose a sugary drink rather than plain water and it is important that we show children that this is not a good habit to be in.

“Excessive consumption of sugary drinks has been identified as a key public health issue and as a school we believe it is important that children form healthy habits while young.”

A Whole School Foods policy on the school website also said water bottles should only contain water, not squash or juice.

The school was contacted by the Gazette but declined to comment.