Councils to send toilet training advice to families with school offers
Up to 20 councils plan to send potty training guides to families with their primary school offers this spring, following research that found one in four children started Reception in nappies last year. The scheme aims to help children become toilet independent before school and reduce the time teachers spend dealing with toileting accidents.
A pilot in York sent printed guides to 1,700 families and offered support through libraries, GP surgeries and drop-in sessions. Among 55 primary schools, the share of children not toilet trained fell from 11 per cent in 2025 to 6 per cent in 2026: 85 of 1,374 pupils, compared with 148 of 1,364 the previous year. The charity behind the scheme says teachers had been losing an average of 1.4 hours a day; some politicians criticised the councils’ role, while the early education minister welcomed the pilot.
- Up to 20 councils plan to distribute potty training guides.
- One in four children reportedly started Reception in nappies.
- York’s pilot saw the share fall from 11% to 6%.
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Around a quarter of children started primary school in nappies last year, according to recent research. Teachers have reported losing substantial time to toileting-related issues, and there are concerns about whether children are sufficiently prepared for Reception. This has prompted councils to explore how to better support families in toilet training.
York recently ran a trial sending potty training guides to nearly 1,700 families and offering support through libraries, GP surgeries and drop-in sessions. Among fifty-five primary schools involved, the share of children not toilet trained fell from eleven per cent in 2025 to six per cent in 2026. Building on this evidence, up to twenty councils now plan to send similar guides to families with primary school offers this spring.
The initiative has received mixed political responses, with some questioning the role of councils in this area. The early education minister, however, has welcomed the pilot's results and the expansion of the scheme.
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The case for
Teachers lose approximately 1.4 hours daily to toileting incidents, with one in four children starting Reception in nappies—a measurable problem affecting classroom learning time. The York pilot demonstrated clear results, reducing untrained pupils from 11 per cent to 6 per cent through supportive guidance delivered via libraries and GP surgeries, showing this practical intervention works without coercion.
The case against
Critics question whether councils should intervene in what is fundamentally a parental responsibility, viewing this as government overreach into family autonomy. Since children develop at different rates, standardised guidance could create unnecessary pressure rather than help; resources might be more productively spent on core educational provision rather than directing parenting decisions.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Dozens of councils to give out potty training guides to parents as 1 in 4 children arrive at school in nappies”.