Poll Shocker: Most Parents Say Potty Training Isn’t Necessary Before School Starts

Six out of ten parents do not believe their children need to be toilet-trained before starting school.

A poll featured in The Sun highlights a significant issue regarding pre-school readiness.

Approximately 64 percent of parents feel that their children do not need to be able to concentrate on a task for ten minutes prior to beginning formal education at the age of four.

Moreover, 70 percent believe that it is not essential for their kids to know how to use a knife and fork.

The government has introduced a Best Start in Life online guidebook to address concerns that teachers are increasingly expected to act as surrogate parents while also managing traditional classroom responsibilities.

Supported by educational authorities, the guide will provide insights on feeding and sleeping routines, speech development, child growth milestones, and how to access local childcare services.

The Education Secretary stated: “We’re taking steps to simplify things and provide clarity, giving parents access to reliable, expert advice so that their children are prepared to learn.”

She continued: “Every parent wants the best for their child, but once they go online, everyone has an opinion, making it difficult for parents to determine what or whom to trust.”

The National Association of Head Teachers union cautioned in a 2023 report that “school leaders and staff increasingly find themselves acting as teachers, social workers, and counselors all at once.”

This report emphasized that most school staff are putting in extra hours to fill the void left by “collapsed social and healthcare services.”