One in four children in England start school without being toilet trained, say teachers

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by PA MediaJanuary 22, 2026 at 08:51 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

A recent survey by Kindred Squared found that a significant number of children in England are starting school without basic life skills. The survey of 1,000 primary school staff revealed that approximately one in four children entering reception in 2025 were not toilet trained, with higher rates in the north-east. Teachers also reported that many children struggled with independent eating, drinking, and using books correctly. This lack of school readiness, estimated at 37% nationally, is impacting teaching time and resources. Kindred Squared attributes this issue to stretched resources, the rising cost of living, and a lack of parental support, raising concerns about the government's target to have 75% of children school-ready by 2028.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

West Midlands 40% north-west 40% north-east ×250% Department for Education 60% Felicity Gillespie 60% Kindred Squared ×480% England ×290%

Keywords

school readiness 100% toilet training 90% basic life skills 80% reception class 70% primary school 60% child development 50% early years 50% teaching time 40% kindred squared 40%