Is there a crisis in school readiness?

With Primary School Offer Day approaching on 16th April, attention is turning to the number of children starting school without essential readiness skills.

Recent figures reveal that 37% of children in 2025 reception classes were not considered school ready. Among the key challenges identified, 26% of children were not toilet trained, 32% struggled with separation and became overly upset when away from parents, and 28% were unable to eat and drink independently.

These findings highlight the scale of the issue for both education professionals and parents, underlining the importance of preparation in the crucial months before starting school.

Ros spoke to Hannah Wilson, education expert Busy Bees.

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