West Midlands School Readiness Concerns: Survey Highlights Toilet Training Gaps

Based on reporting by BBC UK:

According to a survey conducted by the charity Kindred Squared, almost one-third of children commencing school in the West Midlands during the previous year were not completely toilet-trained. Furthermore, primary school staff assessed that 42% of those arriving in reception were not prepared for school.

The charity has announced the launch of its potty-training scheme, which will be implemented in Solihull and will furnish resources and support, including enhanced training for professionals, schools, and nurseries. In a pilot program in York, which commenced in April, parents received guides on school readiness and potty training along with their school place offers. Support was provided through GPs, libraries, pharmacies, and community hubs, and as a result, the number of children starting reception without full toilet training decreased by nearly half.

An early years specialist based in Wolverhampton, Ruth Lue-Quee, stated that the discussion regarding school readiness should extend beyond just toilet training. She emphasized the importance of foundational skills such as conversational ability, engaging with stories, and physical movement, noting that these underpin the ability to learn and practice daily independence, such as managing coats or removing socks. However, she cautioned that school readiness should not become a checklist that four-year-olds are expected to pass, or something that causes parents to feel they have failed if their child develops differently, asserting that childhood is not a race.

Rachel, a mother from Nottinghamshire and one of Lue-Quee's clients, shared that she attempted to toilet-train her son when he was three but he experienced issues with stool withholding. She noted that her experience as a parent was distinct from her perspective as a teacher. She mentioned that she felt informed as a teacher but was unsure of what to do as a parent, adding that the difficulty was not due to laziness but required significant effort. She reported that her family did not receive access to funded support until the end of her son's reception year, and he is now eight years old and awaiting an ADHD assessment, which she believes may have impacted his development.

Helen Davies, a health visitor and children's nurse in Stafford, commented that children who frequently have accidents might be afraid of the toilet, potentially leading to constipation. She advised that repeated accidents should prompt an inquiry into underlying issues rather than assuming parents have not made sufficient effort.

Annamaria Bailey, a 37-year-old mother from Wolverhampton, recounted that toilet-training her two-year-old required her to take four days off from her job as an independent travel agent. She suggested that assisting children with skills like toileting and communication presents a significant hurdle for families where both parents are employed full-time, as there is less time available for play. Lue-Quee pointed out that older generations are also working later, meaning some families lack the traditional community support system. Kindred Squared indicated that the West Midlands has experienced one of the largest declines in school readiness across the country, with the number of children lacking skills such as toileting increasing annually. Solihull Council stated it had received local reports of a higher proportion of children arriving at school in nappies or pull-ups compared to a few years ago, and its new potty-training scheme is part of its broader Best Start in Life programme.

Bailey, who previously worked as a reception teacher and early years lead, observed inequalities in school readiness when comparing deprived and affluent areas, attributing this to income levels. She suggested that families with lower incomes have less access to information, such as parenting books, which can be costly, and proposed that free toilet-training resources could be provided when children turn two. Davies, who operates Essential Parenting providing one-to-one guidance, noted that families might not receive timely or consistent support before difficulties become entrenched. She cited financial strain, parental stress, limited opportunities for play, and difficulties accessing early years provision and professional advice as factors that can complicate school preparation, emphasizing that public services are vital for families unable to afford private support.

For educators, the issue is practical; a reception teacher managing several children needing toileting assistance must balance this against the needs of the rest of the class. Lue-Quee stated that it is very difficult for schools to facilitate this support alongside teaching, and while teachers report children arriving with broader needs, she stressed the need to avoid solely blaming parents. Anna Nijjar, a governor at St Nicholas CE First School in Codsall, Staffordshire, asserted that the responsibility for a child's development rests with schools as well as parents, stating that the school's role at that age is to help children develop into young people and acquire necessary skills. She called for increased funding for schools to manage growing demands, suggesting that while parents should be supported, schools also require support, as they are struggling to meet needs with limited resources.