Norfolk teacher says staff are having to toilet train some of their youngest pupils
More than a third of primary school teachers in the UK are warning that most of their pupils are not developmentally ready when they start school
A teacher in Norfolk is telling us that increasing numbers of staff are having to help toilet train some of their youngest pupils in school.
A new study's found that children in the UK are falling behind others across the world - with a majority of four and five-year-olds unable to wash their hands or read their own names.
"Could lead mental health issues in the future"
Scott Lyons also works for the National Education Union in the county.
He wants the Government to put more money back into family support schemes like 'Sure-Start': "It gave new parents the chance to learn from those who are more experienced and gave the opportunity for mentoring, guidance and support. It means we've got some many isolated parents now.
"But there are issues when it comes to some of the parenting of today, as well. Where children aren't building that strong relationship and bond with their parents, that was the case 20 years ago or so. Many parents are too busy looking at screens and not talking to children properly."
He says the picture looks bleak, if things don't change: "Children learn more from their peers in their first few years, than they ever do from adults.
"But if they can't look other people in the eye and adjust their behaviour they're going to feel more isolated, which could lead mental health issues in the future."
The research in more depth:
The work, carried out by charity 'Theirworld', looked at four and five-year-olds across the world, and found that:
-More than a third of primary school professionals in the UK (37%) warn that most of their pupils are not developmentally ready when they start school
-A third (33%) of the UK teachers polled for the survey blame children’s developmental delays on low attendance of preschool and 37% cited a lack of affordable childcare options.
-Over two in five (42%) of those surveyed believe pupils are lagging behind because developmental delays in preschool-aged children are not being identified early enough.
-Nearly the same proportion (40%) blame the pandemic for the fact that so many children in the UK do not appear to be developmentally ready for school.
-Some 60% of the UK teachers polled told the charity that children had become less ready for school over recent years.
What's has the Government said on this
In their manifesto, The Labour Party said it will help half a million more children to hit the Early Learning Goals by 2030.