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Potty-training scheme to expand to 20 more areas across England following success in York
Overview
Following a successful pilot scheme in York that distributed potty-training guides and held workshops for parents, 20 local authorities across England are set to adopt similar initiatives. The York pilot resulted in a 43% drop in the number of children starting school without being fully toilet-trained, freeing up teachers to spend more time on education.
Key points
- A city-wide potty-training pilot in York led to a 43% drop in children starting school not fully toilet-trained.
- The number of reception pupils not toilet-trained in York fell from 148 (11%) last year to 85 (6%) this year.
- Twenty local authorities across England, including Suffolk, Hampshire, and Solihull, have signed up to launch similar schemes.
- The pilot involved sending guides to families, running workshops, and offering special training for early years staff.
- Teachers reported spending more time teaching and less time dealing with nappies following the scheme's introduction.
- The government remains committed to ensuring 75% of pupils reach a good level of development by the end of their first year in school by 2028.