Around 20 local councils in England are set to distribute potty training guidance to parents alongside primary school place offers starting this spring, following concerns about the number of children arriving at reception classes still in nappies. The initiative responds to data indicating that approximately one in four children nationwide were not toilet trained when beginning school at ages four to five.

The information, gathered in a recent survey conducted by the charity Kindred Squared, revealed that teachers spend an average of one hour and 24 minutes daily managing toilet accidents among young pupils. In light of these findings, the charity supported a pilot program with City of York Council that resulted in a 46 percent reduction in incidents related to untrained children.

Primary school admission offers are typically issued in April, allowing parents around five months to apply the potty training advice before the new school year begins in September. A number of councils have committed to providing these guides, including Hounslow in West London, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, Rotherham, Hampshire, Suffolk, Halton in Cheshire, the London Borough of Redbridge, Cheshire West & Chester, and Solihull.

While supporters argue the measure will help ease pressures on educators and improve children’s readiness for school, some commentators have criticized the approach. Iain Mansfield, director at the Policy Exchange think tank, described the move as indicative of a broader erosion of parental responsibility, arguing that such matters should not fall within the state’s remit. Similarly, Conservative peer Baroness Maclean of Redditch called the scheme a “potty idea,” emphasizing that toilet training remains a parental duty.

The councils involved maintain that providing clear, practical advice will assist families and schools alike in addressing the issue, aiming for smoother transitions into formal education settings.