Children starting school are trying to swipe on books as if they were digital devices, a damning new report has found.
According to the annual survey of reception teachers, more than a quarter of children are unable to eat and drink independently with others struggling with basic language skills.
The annual survey of primary school staff by the early years charity Kindred Squared found 26 per cent of the children in their Reception class this year were having frequent toilet mishaps, up from 24 per cent last year.
Figures showed 25 per cent did not have basic language skills, such as being able to say their name and answer simple questions.
The survey of 1,000 primary school staff found 37 per cent of children are starting reception not school-ready, up from 33 per cent in 2024.
This includes basic language skills, being able to eat, go to the toilet and dress themselves independently as well as sit, play and listen with other children.
Labour is hoping to get this figure down to 25 per cent.
Reception staff also estimated they were spending 1.4 hours a day changing nappies or helping children who were not toilet trained, and in total lost 2.4 hours teaching time a day due to a lack of basic skills.
The new report issued a damning warning for reception children
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Chief executive of Kindred Squared Felicity Gillespie said: “The state of school readiness has reached a critical moment.
“This is no longer just a classroom issue; it is a systemic crisis fuelled by stretched school resources, low expectations, the rising cost of living, and by parents who lack the right information and understanding early enough to truly support their children’s development.”
In a separate survey, 94 per cent of parents said they would like to see national guidance on making sure their child was school-ready.
The research of found 88 per cent of parents said their child was ready to start school this year and 35 per cent said their child was more ready than most children.
Parents felt there should be national guidance on school readiness
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General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers Paul Whiteman said: “The findings of this survey reflect what we are hearing from our members, school leaders are reporting increasing numbers of children starting school without basic ‘school readiness’ skills, like being toilet trained.
“More support before children start school in the early years is crucial, both for pupils and for families.
“As this report points out, it can be overwhelming for parents to know where to start and what to prioritise.
“Early identification and intervention to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) would also make a big difference. Increasing levels of SEND will be partly causing these rising numbers.”
Bridget Phillipson is targeting primary schools
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PAThe Government has been focusing investment in the early years as part of its opportunity mission.
General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Pepe Di’Iasio said: “There is very obviously a huge problem with children not being ready for school when they start in reception.”
He said the rollout of family and childcare expansion are the right things.
However he added Labour’s current plans are “not quick fixes” amid the “decline of local support services over the past 15 years.”
A Department for Education spokesman said: “This Government has a clear mission to make sure tens of thousands more children start school ready to learn, and we are already taking action to make that a reality.
“We are seeing early signs of improvement, with more children reaching a good level of development by age five, but we know there is further to go.
“We inherited a system where disadvantage was allowed to deepen, and these findings underline the scale of the school readiness challenge we are determined to tackle, so every child gets the best possible start in life.”