York Pilot Shows Significant Increase in Children Toilet-Trained Before School Start

According to BBC UK, the number of children who were toilet-trained before beginning school this year has increased notably in York, a city that implemented a city-wide pilot which also included workshops for parents and specialized training for early years staff. Twenty local authorities across England have now committed to launching comparable programs aimed at reducing the number of pupils who start school without being fully toilet-trained. The government has described the pilot's outcomes as "encouraging" and has reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring 75% of pupils achieve a good level of development by the end of their first year in school by 2028.

Since April of this year, parents throughout York have been provided with information and support options regarding potty training their child before school commencement through various channels, including GP surgeries, pharmacies, family hubs, schools, nurseries, and libraries. Potty training guides were distributed to all families in York whose children were set to start reception in September, with the objective being that all children could use the toilet independently upon starting school, barring those with special educational needs or medical conditions.

Results from all 55 mainstream primary schools in the city, which were shared exclusively with BBC News, indicated a 43% decrease compared to the previous year in the count of children who were not fully toilet-trained when they entered school. Last September in York, 148 out of 1,364 reception pupils (11%) were recorded as not being toilet-trained at the start of school. This year, that figure decreased to 85 reception pupils out of 1,374 (6%).

Parents Natalie and Lucy, both of whom have daughters starting reception next year, have expressed appreciation for the additional support available. Lucy mentioned noticing the drop-in sessions on potty training at her local children's center and considered it a "really good idea." She stated that she believes it is very important for children to be better prepared for this aspect of starting school, adding that going to school is difficult enough for children.

Natalie noted that getting her daughter Freya potty-trained in time for school was a priority but felt there was considerable pressure on parents to achieve this. She commented that for her, it was crucial that her daughter felt confident using toilets and was independent, rather than depending on teachers in an environment with many other children to supervise.

Natalie suggested that the widespread availability of disposable nappies might contribute to parents delaying potty training. She recalled that when she was young, nappies were made of terry towel, required washing and hanging on a line, and stated that disposable nappies make it easier.

External research from the children's charity Kindred Squared indicated that around one in four children in England and Wales did not start school fully toilet-trained last year, and teachers reported spending over an hour daily changing nappies. Felicity Gillespie, the CEO of Kindred Squared, informed BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the issue of children not being potty trained when starting school was "a real concern for teachers." She added that, on average across the country, teachers are losing a day of teaching time each week to addressing potty-training matters. Gillespie expressed a desire to promote the message that it is best for children to transition out of nappies between 18 and 30 months of age, noting that when a teacher leaves class to change a child's nappy, the learning of the rest of the class is interrupted, causing everyone to miss out.

Jo Mould, a reception teacher at Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy in York, observed an improvement in pupils being ready for school this year. She stated that the class has spent more time teaching in the last three weeks than in previous years, as the children have arrived more settled and socially and emotionally regulated, leading to a very positive start to the school year. York councillor Bob Webb commented that the scheme's effect had been "so positive" for both families and schools, though he acknowledged a potential "gap in support" for parents between when they see health visitors with their toddlers and when the child reaches school age. He attributed the scheme's success to collaboration among health visitors, schools, and other community settings, while noting that further improvements could be made at an even earlier age.

Twenty local authorities across England have now committed to adopting York's model, which was developed by Kindred Squared, to encourage earlier potty training in their respective areas. These authorities include North Lincolnshire, Suffolk, Solihull, Rotherham, Hampshire, Halton, London Borough of Redbridge, London Borough of Hounslow, and Cheshire West and Chester. Latest government statistics show that just over two-thirds of children in England (68.3%) leave reception class with a good level of development, which encompasses physical, social, and emotional development alongside communication skills. This assessment by teachers includes the ability to complete tasks such as using the toilet and paying attention in class. The government has stated it remains committed to increasing this proportion to 75% by 2028. Early Education Minister Paul Waugh stated that it was "encouraging to see this pilot helping more children develop the confidence and independence they need before starting school," emphasizing the importance of parents taking early steps toward toilet training. In York, Mould expressed hope that parents next year would initiate potty training even earlier, stating that ideally, children would not require this support upon arrival at school because they would already have been trained.