Potty training scheme cuts children starting school in nappies by 43%

A York pilot saw the number of reception children not fully toilet-trained fall by 43%, with 20 councils now considering the approach.

Little girl, potty training on tiny toilet

Getty/Catherine Falls Commercial

Published: October 5, 2026 at 12:32 PM

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A potty training scheme that helped more children start school toilet-trained could soon be rolled out across England.

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The pilot scheme in York has been linked to a 43% drop in the number of children starting reception who were not fully toilet-trained. Now, 20 local authorities are signed up to adopt a similar approach.

The city-wide scheme gave parents practical potty training information alongside support through workshops, nurseries, schools, GP surgeries, pharmacies, libraries and family hubs.

The aim was to help children become confident using the toilet independently before starting school, except where medical needs or special educational needs meant this was not appropriate.

What happened in the York potty training pilot?

Families in York with children due to start reception this September were sent potty training guides alongside their school place information in April. Around 1,700 households received the guidance.

The results, gathered from all 55 mainstream primary schools in the city, showed that 85 out of 1,374 reception pupils, around 6%, were not fully toilet-trained when they started school this year.

That compares with 148 out of 1,364 pupils, around 11%, in September 2025.

The figures represent a 43% reduction in the number of children starting school without being fully toilet-trained.

Gail Brown, chief executive of Ebor Academy Trust, which had six schools involved in the pilot, said the approach was about helping families rather than putting pressure on them.

“It was very much about supporting parents, not blaming parents.”

When children are supported to take these important steps early, it can make a real difference to how they settle in, make friends and start learning.

Early Education Minister Paul Waugh

Teachers say the difference can be felt in the classroom

The pilot comes as research from children's charity Kindred Squared suggests around one in four children starting reception in England and Wales last year were not fully toilet-trained.

Felicity Gillespie, chief executive of Kindred Squared, said teachers reported losing significant teaching time dealing with toilet training.

“We know from our annual school readiness surveys that, on average, teachers have been losing the equivalent of a day a week of teaching time helping children who are not able to go to the toilet themselves.”

For safeguarding reasons, it takes two adults to change a child's nappy, meaning two members of staff need to leave the classroom every time. This leads to a lot of lost teaching time or requires extra staff, so cutting down on nappy changes can make a huge difference for children, teachers, and schools alike.

20 councils are now looking at the York approach

The York model, developed with Kindred Squared, is now being considered or adopted by around 20 local authorities across England.

These include:

The Government is also aiming to increase the proportion of children achieving a good level of development by the end of reception, from 68.3% according to the latest figures, to 75% by 2028.

Early Education Minister Paul Waugh said the results were encouraging.

“Toilet training can be one of the biggest milestones in a child’s early years, so it’s encouraging to see this pilot helping more children develop the confidence and independence they need before starting school.”

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He added: “When children are supported to take these important steps early, it can make a real difference to how they settle in, make friends and start learning.”

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