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.

Given the huge variation in what nurseries offer and the closure of Sure Start provision, I think he lacks awareness of how tough it can be when you've no money, no support and you're trying to get through each day as it comes.

I'm not defending poor parenting but I am saying that many are on their knees.

I wouldn't have believed it until I saw it first-hand: whole communities have suffered enormously from the combination mentioned above.

I'd be relaunching Sure Start at this point and look hard at how funding cuts to libraries has had a terrible effect on parent engagement and early literacy development.

Techers are there to teach, not wipe kids bottoms when parents can't be bothered to potty train them. Don't care what Starmer says because he is an enemy .

It’s really sad isn’t it because I just feel so attacked when people talk about children not being school ready. We have tried so much with our daughter who has global developmental delay, & now suspected autism. I have tried and tried and tried for 2 years to potty train her it has been a living hell to literally sit and watch a child just not get it. You just wouldn’t know unless you lived it. I thought the same way as everybody else did until this happened to me & now my daughter is one of the kids at school who needs her nappy changed and it makes me cry everyday. She went to nursery & pre school 2 days a week where she was completely unsupported it has now come to light, they were not truthful with us at all & now she needs more funding etc. it’s a shame ! 😔

Playgroups can't do it all! They've got a lot of children and not a lot of time to be teaching them basics which parents should be doing at home. What's the point of spending time potty training 20 children then half of them go home and get put back in nappies...for example

My mother has been in childcare 35 years and said the last 10 years it's got progressively worse and that it's really really bad now - not all (there are lots of well loved and cared for children) but for many, parenting has completely gone out the window

25% of children turn up to school and they’re not potty trained. The vast majority of them just have lazy parents.

In fairness, if you read the full transcript it does look as if his point is that the support isn't in place. So he isn't so much having a good old Mumsnet rant at rubbish parents but talking about the removal of support structures. Which is what he, as prime minister, should be focussing on. The thing is, if all he does is talk about the problem without putting money where his mouth is then it's still just gesture politics so we shall see. I agree.it would be fantastic if they brough back sure start.

They have started bringing back sure start. It's rebranded to Family Hubs.

Our town has had one put in the town centre with a little creche/play area.

They weren't actually able to help me with much for my SEN child though who is still not toilet trained.

Some children are developmentally delayed but I get his point. There are a lot of parents who don't teach basic skills to their preschoolers. They can't be bothered or act like their friends. We have become a society who make excuses, won't accept responsibility and have low standards and expectations.

Yeah, children with SEN need more. I dont think dealing.with the reasons neurotypical children aren't ready to start school (while important) will also necessarily help parents of children with SEN. They need specialist support or at least extra informed support.

In many schools, there aren't enough support staff/TAs to deal with it.

I am confident the child will adjust well in life and at school.

I think that statement has been taken entirely out of context. Schools report a significant decline in pupils social and personal skills when children are entering nursery/reception. The cohorts after COVID developed very few social skills, but they also came with a decline in other areas (not toilet trained, not able to put on simple clothing, not able to hold a pen). Simply, skills that parents should be teaching their own children and that are not a schools job. Using school time to teach basic skills means a loss of teaching and impacts other children.
These assessments do not apply to children with SEN, disabilities or who have medical issues. So, in the case of your own child you don't need to worry. But, in some ways, you should be supporting his statement because he is highlighting that your child will have less teacher interaction and support because of it.

I know. It’s so sad and infuriating at the same time.

I also blame the ‘gentle parenting’ style of ‘they’ll do it when they’re ready’ and long complex chats rather than short basic instructions. So many toddlers being essentially grey rocked and baffled with no clear rules and boundaries. They muddle around every day with these useless mixed signals and parents who think they understand symbolic things like ‘worry monsters’

I would take anything keir stalin says with a pinch of salt.

In terms of potty training that was the professional and official advice. From the NHS, health visitors, GP’s etc. complete with a “when they’re ready” list of signs.You can’t really blame parents for that. It’s only now that it’s becoming clear it’s an issue that the official advice is very slowly changing.

So are the other children, the teachers and the other parents whose children are "school ready". Being a parent brings with it serious responsibility. It's tough but that's the way it is.

OMG I’ve heard it all now. 😂😂

What nonsense. Do you live on KFC or something?

Your youngest grandson might be autistic. He sounds similar to my boy who also isnt really going to be school ready.

It’s nothing to do with what I eat. I have travelled in India and have Indian friends. Indian dishes taste superb when eaten with pieces of naan bread and fingers. No need for a knife and fork.

I would put money on it that if children (save for the small minority with genuine issues) were not allowed to go to mainstream school until they were "school ready", there would be a sharp decline in the number who weren't ready. And what do I mean by "school ready"? Ability to use a toilet and out of nappies, able to use a knife and fork, able to sit properly in a chair, able to communicate verbally.

I suspect mine might be an unpopular view but it is my view. 😉It is not the role of teachers to change nappies, how to use of knife, fork and spoon, or how to sit in a chair.

But surely you're not trying to deny that most people in the UK eat most of their evening meals with a knife and fork? 🤔

But they (support staff and TAs) shouldn't be dealing with it anyway, even if there was more staff!