"What many reception teachers say they did not sign up for was spending large chunks of the school day managing toileting, feeding and basic self-care because growing numbers of children are arriving without those skills in place. New data points to a widening gap in England and Wales between what parents believe school ready means and what classrooms are actually experiencing"
"Teachers and parents are telling us that this is a national crisis, Gillespie tells me. We're now seeing almost 40% of children arriving for their very first day at school without the basic life skills they need to be able to access learning. That figure has risen steadily in recent years, from around one-third of children in 2023 and 2024 to 37% this year, according to teachers surveyed."
"The knock-on effects extend well beyond the first few weeks of school. Teachers report that children who start reception without basic skills are much less likely to reach a good level of development by the end of the year, and many struggle to catch up with peers who were school ready. The disruption also affects entire classes, with staff reporting higher stress, lower morale and less time for structured learning,"
Survey data shows rising numbers of children arriving at reception lacking toileting, feeding and self-care skills, with almost 40% lacking basic life skills. The gap reflects differing parental expectations of school readiness and classroom realities, and is worse in deprived areas where austerity cuts to local services and Sure Start reduced early support. Teachers report these children are less likely to reach a good level of development by year-end, classes experience higher stress and lower morale, and staff spend significant time on basic care rather than structured learning, slowing progress for the whole cohort.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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