Toilet training and the ability to use cutlery are key milestones in a new “school-readiness” checklist developed by a coalition of early-years educators and backed by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

The guidance, the first of its kind, aims to help parents prepare children starting reception at age four, following concerns from teachers about pupils arriving in nappies, lacking basic skills, and struggling to interact with others.

The coalition includes groups from both the state and private sectors, such as the National Day Nurseries Association, the Early Years Alliance, and the Confederation of School Trusts.

According to the checklist, children entering reception should be able to use cutlery, go to the toilet independently, take turns and share, recognize their names, hang and put on coats, focus for short periods, engage in creative activities, express their feelings, be active for three hours a day, and brush their teeth twice daily. The guidance also encourages parents to limit screen time.

A survey by the charity Kindred Squared found a disconnect between parents and teachers on school readiness—while 90% of parents believed their child was prepared, teachers said only one in three had the necessary skills.

Felicity Gillespie, director of Kindred Squared, said many parents were unsure about what skills their children should develop before starting school. She welcomed the new checklist, calling for its official adoption by local authorities, schools, and early education providers to ensure all children begin school on equal footing.

Phillipson endorsed the initiative but emphasized that addressing the issue requires more than just government intervention.

"Children starting school without the necessary skills not only hinder their own opportunities but also impact every child in the classroom," said Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

She described the new resource as an essential tool for parents navigating the vast amount of early development advice available, praising Kindred Squared and the wider education sector for uniting on an issue so crucial to children's futures.

The guidance comes amid growing concerns about "lockdown babies"—children born during the Covid pandemic—who are experiencing widespread speech and language difficulties. Teachers have warned that many parents are "in denial" about the problem.

A YouGov survey commissioned by GL Assessment found an increasing number of children starting school with weak communication skills. According to the survey, 44% of primary school teachers reported that up to one in five children struggled to speak at an age-appropriate level, while 37% said the number was as high as two in five.

Teachers largely attributed the decline to reduced conversations at home and increased screen time. Of the 1,000 teachers surveyed, three-quarters believed that parents often fail to acknowledge their child's speech and language difficulties.