York potty-training pilot to expand to 20 English local authorities

Twenty local authorities in England are preparing to introduce a potty-training support scheme modelled on a pilot in York, after the city reported a reduction in the number of children starting school without being fully toilet-trained. The York programme provided parents with guides alongside their first school offers and offered workshops and training for early-years staff. Families were also reached through GP surgeries, pharmacies, family hubs, schools and nurseries.

Data from all 55 mainstream primary schools in York, shared with the BBC, showed that 85 of 1,374 reception pupils, or 6 per cent, were not fully toilet-trained this year. The previous year, the figure was 148 of 1,364 pupils, or 11 per cent. The programme aimed for children to use the toilet independently when they started school, except where medical conditions or special educational needs affected their ability to do so.

Reception teacher Jo Mould said her pupils had arrived more settled and ready to learn. She said staff had spent more time teaching during the first three weeks than in previous years because less time was needed for toilet-training duties. Kindred Squared, the children’s charity that developed the model, said around one in four children started school in England and Wales last year without being fully toilet-trained.

Teachers reportedly spent more than an hour a day changing nappies. The government said the pilot’s results were encouraging and has retained a target for 75 per cent of pupils to reach a good level of development by the end of reception in 2028. The latest figure cited in the source material is 68.3 per cent.

Early Education Minister Paul Waugh said the scheme could help children gain confidence and independence before school, while York councillor Bob Webb said coordination between health visitors, schools and community services remained important.