Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to help improve the level of toilet training among children starting school in September 2025.

The department does not hold this information but surveys of teachers such as the most recent ‘School Readiness Survey’ conducted by Kindred², found that one in four children start reception not toilet trained.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards and requirements that all registered early years providers in England must meet to ensure that children have the knowledge and skills they need to start school.

The EYFS framework includes seven educational programmes, which are high level curriculum summaries, under each statutory area of learning that must shape the early years curriculum. Personal, social and emotional development (PSED) is one of the three prime areas of learning in the EYFS. Children’s PSED is crucial for children to lead healthy and happy lives and is fundamental to their cognitive development. Through adult modelling and guidance, children are expected to learn how to look after their bodies and manage personal needs independently.

The EYFS Profile statistics on teacher assessments of children’s development at the end of the academic year in which children turn five shows that, in 2023/24, 82.9% of children were at the expected level of development for the PSED area of learning, further information can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/early-years-foundation-stage-profile-results/2023-24.

The department will continue to collaborate with the Department of Health and Social Care to consider what further steps can be taken to help improve the level of toilet training among children starting school.