One in four children are due to start school in September without being toilet trained, a charity has said.
A report by early years charity Kindred found pupils are losing, on average, a third of their learning time each day due to teachers diverting away from teaching and towards supporting children who are not school-ready.
Bristol charity ERIC - the children’s bladder and bowel organisation - has now set up an “emergency intervention” campaign for those starting school next month.
ERIC CEO Juliette Rayner said that, while the problem had been a “growing issue” recently, “this year seems to be particularly bad”.
Compulsory school age is 5, but most start in reception at 4. I do agree though that it’s far too young. People will look at you with three heads though if you suggest it’s too young here though.
It is more about having a place to dump your child for the day. Especially true since no family can get by without dual incomes and extended social support has broken down completely.
Also reception isn’t anywhere near as formal as Year 1. It’s pretty much an extension of the nursery experience which many children will have given the need for both parents to work.
I myself have called it “a place to dump your child”, but in reality even nursery is early years education. The real purpose of these places was meant to be education. Many politicians do think of nursery (and school!) primarily as a place to keep kids busy with little regard for quality of learning.