Report Reveals Lacking Basic Skills in Welsh School-Age Children
A recent report has shed light on the concerning lack of basic skills among school-age children in Wales and pointed fingers at various factors contributing to this issue. Teachers are expressing alarm over the decline in school readiness among reception-age children, with some starting school unable to perform simple tasks like climbing stairs, having poor muscle development due to excessive screen time, and even arriving without being toilet trained. This revelation comes after a local authority in Wales informed parents that they would need to come in to change their child’s nappy if they were not yet toilet trained.
A survey conducted by research group Savanta for early years charity Kindred found that nearly half of teachers in Wales and England observed a further decline in school readiness over the past year. Startlingly, around one in four children were not toilet trained when they commenced school last September, and many displayed poor basic motor skills and underdeveloped muscles, which were attributed to excessive screen use. The report also highlighted issues such as clumsiness, delayed walking, and pupils using Americanisms acquired from online content.
While acknowledging the impact of lockdown restrictions, a senior teacher remarked that blaming Covid for the decline in basic skills can only go so far, emphasising parental responsibility as a significant factor. The survey also revealed that less than half of parents of reception-aged children believed that children should have mastered basic skills like properly using books, favouring turning pages over swiping or tapping as if using an electronic device. However, there was widespread agreement among both parents and teachers that toilet training should be a mastered skill before starting reception.
Interestingly, the report highlighted a disparity in perception between parents and teachers regarding school readiness, with nine out of 10 parents considering their child ready for school compared to only one in three teachers who shared the same view. Both groups identified the lack of access to health visitors as a contributing factor to the decline in basic skills among children. Additionally, over 80% of teachers expressed concerns that the ongoing cost of living crisis would further impact school readiness.
Some teachers reported that parents’ preoccupation with work left them with limited opportunity to spend quality time with their children, hindering the development of basic play and conversation skills. Tiffnie Harris of the Association of School and College Leaders underscored the financial challenges faced by many parents, coupled with a lack of support, as contributing factors to the situation. The report’s findings have raised alarms about the future implications of children lacking essential skills at the outset of their educational journey.
The report urges a collective effort from parents, educators, and policymakers to address the root causes of the decline in basic skills among school-age children in Wales. With concerns over the long-term effects of inadequate school readiness, stakeholders are called upon to collaborate in providing the necessary support and resources to ensure that children are equipped with essential skills for success in their educational pursuits. As the debate around early childhood development continues, the spotlight is on fostering a conducive environment where children can thrive and reach their full potential from the outset of their educational journey.