Why are so many four-year-olds not potty-trained before school?
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Bridie Adams (West Midlands) explores the question through the lens of Ruth Lu-Quee, a mother and early years specialist.
For many parents, preparing for their child's start at school involves buying uniforms, labelling water bottles, and enjoying one last summer vacation. However, a more fundamental query arises: is their child ready to use the toilet independently?
According to a survey by charity Kindred Squared, nearly a third of children starting school in the West Midlands last year were not fully potty-trained, and 42% of those entering reception were deemed unprepared by primary school staff.
This week, Kindred Squared announced an initiative to address this issue in Solihull. The program, successfully piloted in York, offers resources and support including:
- Increased training for nurseries, schools, and professionals
- Potty-training and school readiness guides sent to parents
- Workshops held in community hubs
- Distributing resources through GPs, pharmacies, libraries, and community centers
The York pilot saw a significant reduction—almost half—in the number of non-toilet-trained children starting reception.
"Childhood isn't a race" - Ruth Lu-Quee, an early years specialist in Wolverhampton, emphasizes that school readiness extends beyond toileting. She suggests focusing on:
- Communication skills: encouraging conversations and reading stories to foster language development.
- Physical development: promoting everyday independence through activities like hanging coats or taking off socks.
Lu-Quee warns against making school readiness a source of parental anxiety, noting that children reach milestones at different paces. She encourages recognizing that "childhood isn't a race".
Rachel, a mother of two from Nottinghamshire, shares her experience trying to toilet train her son when he was three, highlighting the challenges some families face in this area.