A Potty Training Plan in York Is Spreading to 20 More Areas of England

A city-wide project in York has helped more children learn to use the toilet before starting school, BBC News reports. The government said the results were "encouraging", and 20 more local authorities in England have now signed up to try similar schemes.

Since April, families in York have been reached through doctors' surgeries, pharmacies, family hubs, schools, nurseries and libraries with information about potty training. Potty training guides were sent to every family with a child starting reception in September. The aim was that all children could use the toilet by themselves when they began school, unless they had medical needs or special educational needs. The project also ran workshops for parents and special training for early years staff.

Results from all 55 mainstream primary schools in the city, shared with BBC News, suggest the number of children who were not toilet-trained when they started school fell by 43% since last year. Last September, 148 of 1,364 reception pupils, or 11%, were recorded as not toilet-trained. This year the number was 85 of 1,374, or 6%.

Two parents welcomed the extra help. Lucy said she had noticed the potty training drop-in sessions at her local children's centre and thought it was a really good idea. Natalie, whose daughter Freya starts reception next year, said it was important to her that Freya is confident enough to use the toilet and be independent, without relying on teachers who already have many children to look after. She felt there is a lot of pressure on parents, and she thought disposable nappies might be one reason some parents wait longer.

The issue is common. The children's charity Kindred Squared says about one in four children began school in England and Wales last year not fully toilet-trained. Teachers told the charity they spend over an hour a day changing nappies. Chief executive Felicity Gillespie said teachers report losing, on average, a day a week of teaching time. She said it is best for children to be out of nappies when they are between 18 and 30 months old.

The government says it is committed to having 75% of pupils reach a good level of development by the end of their first year at school by 2028.