Children 'join school unable to use books'

Some children are starting primary school "unable to climb a staircase", while others use Americanisms because they are spending so much time on screens, according to a survey of teachers.

- Sally Weale

The pandemic has been blamed for a decline in school readiness among four- and five-year-olds, but some teachers who took part in the annual poll said the "Covid baby" explanation was starting to feel like an excuse.

The survey of 1,000 primary teachers in England and Wales, carried out by the market research group Savanta on behalf of the early years charity Kindred², found 49% of teachers thought the problem had got worse over the past year.

The government has made school readiness a core mission, with an ambition for 75% of children to reach a good level of development by the time they join reception - up from the current 68%.

The Kindred2 director, Felicity Gillespie, said the findings suggested "too many parents are failing to support the development of their children, in spite of - we know having their best interests at heart".