Toilet training and cutlery use key part of England’s ‘school-readiness skills list’

7 comments

1. “According to the skills checklist, children arriving in reception should be able to use cutlery; use the toilet by themselves; be able to take turns and share toys; recognise their own names; hang coats on pegs; put their own coats on; pay attention for short periods of time; draw, paint or colour in; be able to talk about their feelings; be active for at least three hours a day and brush their teeth twice a day.”

   “Parents should also limit their children’s screen-time, according to the guidance on the website, [Starting Reception](https://startingreception.co.uk/), launched alongside the checklist.

   A survey by the charity Kindred Squared [published last year](https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/feb/28/one-in-four-school-starters-in-england-and-wales-not-toilet-trained-say-teachers) found that teachers and parents had different views on “school-readiness”. While nine out of 10 parents thought their child was ready for school, primary school teachers said that only one in three children had the necessary skills.”

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3. Seems like a pretty acceptable list of requirements, so it is shocking only a third of kids are hitting it.
   I actually did some voluntary work for key stage 0, not all of the kids in reception could always put their coat on by themselves, especially when parents bought them big puffy ones for rain or snow. But really that was no issue. The rest should be achievable.
   My mam does childminding, and she said there was an increasing number of kids that needed toilet training compared to similar ages in the past years. Although these are younger than 5, so at least they are still learning before starting school.

4. Most adults can’t use cutlery.

5. Is that for teachers or pupils?

6. >According to the skills checklist, children arriving in reception should be able to use cutlery; use the toilet by themselves; be able to take turns and share toys; recognise their own names; hang coats on pegs; put their own coats on; pay attention for short periods of time; draw, paint or colour in; be able to talk about their feelings; be active for at least three hours a day and brush their teeth twice a day.

   Genuine question, did something happen to parenting standards over the past decade? Having a child that can’t use the toilet or doesn’t know their own name would have been considered comically bad negligence when I was younger.

7. So we have a population growth problem, and the people who are having kids aren’t raising them properly. What could go wrong?

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