Keir Starmer "sick and tired" of hearing about children who aren't school-ready

[Kirova]

I get the point he's trying to make, of course, but it seems like a stick to beat parents with (and particularly mothers, of course). There's no sense in saying you want all children to be in the same place when they start school. Apart from anything else, some are nearly a year younger than others in their cohort, so clearly they are not going to be in the same place.

My youngest daughter was born premature, has a significant hearing impairment and various other difficulties. She will soon be two, and while she's doing brilliantly, I doubt she'll be "school-ready" by the government's current definition when she is four.

Not sure what my point is exactly, it just seems like another absurd over-simplification on the theme of failing our children, state of the country, etc.

Did he actually say that? Where??

I get your point because some children won’t be ready with even the best parenting.
But there are increasingly children who are Autumn-Spring born with no additional need that are coming into schools unable to do the basics such as go to toilet.
School staff are very good at spotting children with potential additional need so those children won’t be factored into statements like these but neurotypical children that don’t have basic skills are causing a huge huge strain on schools - meaning those children that have had basic parenting and can toilet, sit for a v. short period of time or listen are pretty much left to their own devices playing whilst staff are having to change nappies etc for others.

What is the definition of ‘school ready’?

I think an increase in children who aren’t potty trained etc (if true…!) is a bit of distraction for the teachers.

Given your child is two, there’s so much time for her to develop before school age…

In his interview on Laura Kuenssberg's show this morning. It doesn't make the BBC summary but it was right at the start of the sit-down interview.

This morning on the BBC.

True, but she has certain challenges which will inevitably make it more difficult. And I'd be really sad if she was seen as somehow "deficient" because of them.

The vast majority of kids who aren’t school ready were not premature. They’re kids who have been dumped in front of screens and fed pouches while mum and dad scroll their phone and vape.

He was talking about how some can already read while others are almost literally in nappies. Some are literally in nappies, not almost, but that’s what he was saying. He seems to think widened access to childcare will improve things. Presumably because other services will pick up on children who aren’t meeting milestones before starting school.

@Kirova your DD will start school with staff knowing she will need extra support because of her need and that’s absolutely fine.

You would be surprised how many children can barely talk in Nursery/Reception, which makes you wonder how much they are interacted with at home.
Lots of children don’t have a clue how to play, even when play is modeled by an adult it takes months to break them out of the cycle of just throwing or breaking toys.
It doesn’t sound like a massive issue but when you have a class of 30 and at least half behave this way.
Children who are able to talk, listen, sit, follow instruction, play, contribute to their age appropriate level are in the minority in lots of schools sadly.

When she starts school presumably you’ll be hoping the school are able to support her rather than stretched too think by the needs of the children who are currently starting school unable to sit on the floor and hold a book because they’ve spent 4 years on a sofa in front of YouTube. Who are in nappies because no one could be bothered to potty train them. Who can’t use cutlery because no one taught them.

You’re doing your best, not all parents are and everyone pays a price for shit parenting.

That makes sense.

And you would imagine if in pre-school, they’d be being taught these things.

A shame there’s still a cohort of parents who even when given free childcare can’t be bothered to access it for their children.

Did he say he was sick and tired of hearing it or say he’s sick and tired of parents not preparing their children and rather just moaning they aren’t school ready?

Because I agree that I’m fed up of hearing it. Children have started school at the same age since forever. If they aren’t ready now it’s because attitudes have changed - children’s development hasn’t.

It's different if your child has some medical or learning needs.

But I hear parents with completely
nt children saying at 3 they won’t be school ready and the teachers will just have to deal with it. I don’t think they even try!

and I say that as a parent of an autistic DS who started school 3 weeks after he turned 4 and wasn’t as ready as some children - but my job was to get him as ready as was possible rather than moaning about it.

I would imagine it’s to do with the lastest trend of deferring children who would otherwise be fine if given the chance.

Having said that our education system needs a massive overhaul in general and I say that as someone who works in education!!

I am sure many of us with speech delayed children have heard that old chestnut of "talk to your kids" or "read to your kids" as if we haven't been doing that. No shit Sherlock.

At the primary school where I am Governor up to 50% of the R intake are not "school ready", largely due to parents not undertsanding how to Parent or not caring enough to.
Can you imagine how much work that takes for the school and how it impacts the Kids who are willing and able to learn?

I do get the point. It's just when you're the parent of the child who has delayed speech, digestive difficulties, slow growth and generally is "behind" on everything, it's easy to feel a bit shit about your parenting. But she is doing well and exceeding everyone's expectations. And hopefully by the time she's at school, she may have even discovered the concept of sleep 😭

I have sympathies for you op, but I do believe he has a point. Both parents (if around/involved) should make every effort to ensure their child knows the basics like using a toilet, using cutlery, washing hands and putting a coat on.

There are also an increasing number of speech and language problems, unfortunately a number of which (by no means all) are as a result of children and parents being in front of screens from a very young age and not being talked to. Some responsibility has to be taken.

I think he was making the point that we need to invest in early years and early intervention services to support children and their families

What does school ready look like?

Mine is a year away from school and I don't really know what that phrase means.

My DS is October born, he has no additional needs but his speech wasnt great when he started school and it was picked up at nursery. He didnt have loads of screen time, and I guess i had just got used to trying to interpret what he was saying. He was awful at eye contact and it was much harder in the car for example, when I couldn't see him, or the sound he was trying to make. He had speech therapy for maybe 9 months, and that resolved it.
Neither of my kids could read when they started school, but they recognised letters and numbers, and picked it up pretty quickly. Both were able to use the toilet independently though - I dont recall any of their peers not being ready in that respect. (They are teens now)

Some have, some haven't.

Mine is still in nappies and speaks only single words. I don't think he will be ready but what can I do about? He is likely autistic. Going to take a long time to get things sorted.

What’s his solution?

Children have started school at the same age since forever.

Well, sort of. When I started school there were different intakes across the year, so most kids started either the term after they turned 5 or the term just before they turned 5, rather than some children being only just 4.

There are advantages and disadvantages of course, and the single intake does mean that younger children don’t miss out on 2 terms of Reception, but that extra 6 months at home can make a difference to school readiness at that age.

He’s got a point … this was part of what the Sure Start service used to do. My hope is they bring it back. Investment in Early Years was cut under the last goverment, but it’s essential in identifying those that need more support.

Able to use the toilet, sit quietly for a brief time, able to dress independently, follow basic instructions, able to function in a group environment, able to appropriately interact with adults and other children, able to follow simple instructions, sleep hygiene