As reported by the Guardian, a survey of primary school staff suggests many pupils are beginning reception without basic self-care skills, as teachers report growing concerns about children’s preparedness for classroom learning.
The report is published as the government steps up efforts to ensure more children are ready for school when they begin reception. Official measures of “school readiness” include milestones such as basic communication skills, the ability to manage personal care like eating, dressing and using the toilet, and being able to sit, listen and play alongside others.
However, teachers say many children are falling short of these expectations. Survey responses suggest roughly one in four pupils starting reception in 2025 had not yet been toilet trained, prompting concerns that an increasing number of children are beginning school without essential everyday skills.
The findings are drawn from an annual survey of primary school staff in England carried out by the early years charity Kindred Squared. Teachers estimated that more than a quarter of children in their reception classes were experiencing regular toileting accidents, with the figure rising to more than a third in the north-east.
Difficulties were not limited to toileting. According to the survey, 28% of children were unable to eat or drink without help, while 25% were struggling with other basic self-care skills. The charity noted that these figures exclude children whose development may be affected by disabilities or special educational needs.
Kindred Squared said schools were seeing a growing number of pupils arriving at the school gates lacking the fundamental skills needed to fully access learning in the classroom.
Teachers also raised concerns about children’s interaction with books, with more than a quarter reporting that pupils were unable to use them properly, including attempts to swipe or tap pages as though they were using a digital device.
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