Almost 40% of children are starting school unprepared, causing teachers to spend valuable teaching time on tasks like toilet training, according to recent research findings. The annual survey conducted by Kindred Squared revealed that 37% of kids entered reception without essential skills last year, a rise from 33% in 2024.
Teachers are losing 2.4 hours daily, with 1.4 hours dedicated to addressing issues like children not being toilet-trained, leading to nappy changes and accidents. Primary school educators reported that 28% of students struggle with independent eating and drinking, 25% have difficulties with basic language skills, and 26% are not yet toilet trained.
The study highlighted widening school readiness gaps nationwide, with significant declines observed in regions like the North East, West Midlands, North West, and London. Notably, up to 36% of children in the North East lack toilet training skills.
Despite these challenges, a striking 88% of parents believe their children are prepared for school. However, teachers are experiencing heightened stress levels and diminished morale due to the added responsibility of providing basic care, as revealed by the early years charity.
Over half of the staff identified excessive screen time as the primary factor contributing to poor school readiness. The government is set to release updated guidelines on screen time for children under five in April.
Kindred’s research indicated that 94% of parents desire national standards for school readiness. Opposition leader Keir Starmer has set a target to have 75% of five-year-olds “school ready” by 2028, prompting the rollout of Best Start Family Hubs nationwide to support parenting skills and early child development.
Felicity Gillespie, CEO of Kindred Squared, emphasized the critical state of school readiness, with 37% of children lacking essential life skills to engage in the curriculum effectively. She highlighted systemic challenges stemming from inadequate parental information, stretched school resources, and rising living costs.
Various education leaders stressed the need for enhanced early support for children and families, emphasizing the importance of identifying and intervening early to support children with special educational needs. They called for a comprehensive system of early support and accessible family services to promote children’s learning and development.
The Department for Education acknowledged the ongoing challenges of school readiness, emphasizing efforts to address child poverty, enhance childcare support, and provide guidance on screen time for young children. Despite improvements in children reaching a good level of development, there is a recognition of the need to further enhance early childhood support to ensure every child receives a strong start in life.