York’s school starters gain confidence with toilet-training support

More children in York are arriving at school able to use the toilet independently, after the city offered families practical help before their first day.

Across all 55 mainstream primary schools, 85 of this September’s 1,374 reception pupils were not fully toilet-trained, compared with 148 of 1,364 a year earlier. That is a 43% fall in the number needing support.

The pilot, developed with Kindred Squared, sent guides with school offers and brought advice into nurseries, GP surgeries and libraries. Workshops supported parents, while early-years staff received training.

The council’s guidance explains the everyday detail: agree a consistent approach with everyone caring for the child, practise regularly and keep accidents calm. Children with medical or additional needs may need tailored support.

These are year-on-year school figures, rather than a controlled trial, so they cannot isolate the pilot’s effect.

Still, reception teacher Jo Mould says her class has spent more time learning this term. Twenty more councils have signed up to try York’s approach.

Sources

• BBC News — York’s toilet-training pilot results
• Raise York — toilet-training guidance