A headteacher and family workers have backed a proposed scheme to help parents toilet-train their children after one school found nine of 11 new pupils were still in nappies last year.
After a successful pilot in York, Suffolk is one of 20 council areas considering help for parents whose children are starting school.
A survey by the charity Kindred Squared suggested that around one in four children who started reception in 2025 were not toilet trained.
In April, 1,700 families received potty-training advice with their school-place offer letters. In September, York saw a 42% drop in the number of children starting school without being toilet trained.
Suffolk is one of 20 council areas in England considering the scheme.
Suffolk educators, including Beeches Community Primary School senior nursery nurse Jo Cox, welcomed the plan. Ms Cox runs termly potty-training workshops for parents and has also trained Early Years teachers across ASSET Education’s 15 schools.
“We realised the importance of toilet support on this scale when we had a year that nine out of the 11 children that started with us in nursery arrived in September in nappies,” said Ms Cox.
“We do this to be proactive rather than reactive, and it's a universal offer so that parents are not stigmatised. Most children who are due to start in reception and visit school are quickly armed with resources, advice and a potty well in advance!”
Rachel Walker is the school’s headteacher and ASSET Education’s director of safeguarding.
“Anything that can encourage children and families ready for starting school is wonderful! This sounds like a really positive idea,” said Mrs Walker.
“This has made a difference to us - because we ensure children in our nursery leave toilet trained, then we can focus on other learning which is so important to our children getting the best start in life.”
Home-Start Suffolk is an independent charity supporting families with children under 12 emotionally and practically. Family support manager Alison Grant and coordinator Natalie Highland both backed the scheme in principle.
They said schools are seeing more children struggle with independent skills such as toileting, using cutlery and dressing than 10 years ago. They said possible reasons include the Covid pandemic and wider isolation.
“There’s no handbook for parenting – we learn on the job,” said Ms Highland. “We live in a society where lots of people don’t have extended family – they don’t have a mum or auntie or a grandma or a mother-in-law who can guide them through toileting, so they are kind of on their own.”
Ms Grant said a one-size-fits-all approach can undermine parents’ confidence, especially if they feel their child must be toilet-trained by a set age.
“We need to acknowledge and recognise that children are all at different stages,” Ms Grant said.
Both women said they hoped struggling parents would receive more support.
“For some people, the leaflet by itself will be a little daunting, and they would benefit from having somebody there to guide them through that process,” said Ms Highland.
Chloe Jordan is a childcare lecturer at Suffolk New College. She said: “As someone who has previously taught in primary schools - I think the fact that that this scheme is being provided in a supportive, friendly and non-judgmental way - I think ultimately that approach is going to be beneficial to our children, their parents and our schools.”
Liz Bonnelykke is headteacher of Stanton Primary School, which is part of Eastern Education Group. She said: "At Stanton Primary School and Nursery, we are fortunate that this is not something we see regularly. Having our own nursery means we are able to build strong relationships with families from an early stage and work together to support children in becoming confident, independent and ready for school.
"We are always pleased to see initiatives that champion school readiness and encourage meaningful communication with parents. Starting school is a huge milestone for children and families alike, and providing parents with timely information, advice and support can make a real difference. Any scheme that helps families feel informed and confident as they prepare their child for Reception is something we would welcome."
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