York council launches pilot to aid parents with preschool potty training
York's council began a pilot in April that mailed potty-training guides with school-place letters to 1,700 families, aiming to improve readiness for preschool.
The initiative distributes informational leaflets alongside admission letters to help parents teach children to use the toilet before starting preschool. Early results show fewer children begin preschool without potty training compared with the previous year. The program, funded by the charity Kindred Squared, includes parent working groups, teacher training, clinic leaflets, and toilet-training books. A teacher survey indicates that one in four children starting primary school in 2025 had not received potty training, and around 20 other local councils plan to adopt the model.
Why it matters
Early toilet independence can ease preschool transitions and reduce strain on early-years staff.
In this story
