York parents and carers to receive support to help get their child school-ready
York parents and carers with children starting school in September will receive specialist information to help them get their child school-ready this month.
Around 1,700 households will receive two information booklets – one focussing on how parents can get children toilet trained before starting school – and another with helpful tips to make sure children are ready to start Reception.
The colourful information booklets have been produced in partnership with national charitable foundation, Kindred², and schools, early years settings and childcare and health professionals in York.
Staying clean and dry through the school day, without the need to wear nappies, helps children to feel confident, healthy and part of their class group. It also means teachers can spend more time teaching and supporting children’s development in other ways.
While potty training can seem daunting, almost all children can learn to be clean and dry with the right support.
And professionals are reminding parents and carers that local help and advice is available from childminders, nurseries, pre-schools, health visitors and York’s family hubs.
Families can also attend a toilet training workshop with York’s Healthy Child Service at community venues across the city over the next few weeks. More information is available at www.raiseyork.co.uk/PottyTraining
Cllr Bob Webb, City of York Council’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “When children arrive for their first day at school, ready to learn, they’re going to enjoy their time far more, and it ensures that school staff can focus all of their energy on teaching and learning.
“Supporting all children across the city to do their very best at school is an absolute priority and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work with schools, childcare settings and charitable foundation Kindred² to create these new resources to help parents and carers support their child to get school-ready.”
Felicity Gillespie, Chief Executive, Kindred Squared,said: “This is the first time in England that an entire city is coming together to create a joined-up approach to toilet training in this way.
“We know from our annual school readiness surveys that too many children are starting in Reception not toilet trained and, on average, teachers are losing the equivalent of a day a week of teaching time helping children who are not able to go to the toilet themselves.
“That has a damaging impact on learning for every child in the class, every single school day. We know parents really want clear and concise advice, and the goal is to ensure every family in York has the best resources they need to ensure their child is toilet trained before starting school.”
Gail Brown, CEO of Ebor Academy Trust, said: ” Starting ‘big school’ is a big step not just for the children but for parents and carers too. We are really excited about the new improved ways of working across all our schools in our city to ensure all families have consistent messaging and information to support their child to make the best start to school possible. “
The information booklets are also available online at www.raiseyork.co.uk/PottyTraining and www.raiseyork.co.uk/Startingreception
Image (above): local parents and staff from City of York Council’s Healthy Child team, taking part in one of the Toilet Training sessions, together with Cllr Bob Webb, the council’s Executive member for Children, Young People and Education, (sharing the new resources for parents)