“It can be done. There will be support out there from health colleagues for parents whose children are struggling.
“So I think it will only be a positive step for children to ensure they’re really ready to start school and come to learn.”
In recent years, Mould says she has seen a “huge change” with more children arriving at school with speech and language difficulties, difficulty regulating their emotions, and issues with going to the toilet.
“Particularly around toilet-training, it takes two members of staff to change a child, so it does take up human resource and takes the adults away from the children learning,” she says.
In a recent survey by the children’s charity Kindred Squared, external, reception staff said they were spending 1.4 hours a day changing nappies and losing over two hours of teaching time a day on average to basic skills.
Across the country, the government wants more children to have ticked off the skills they need, external to be fully ready to start school before September.
They include a range of physical, emotional and social skills, such as:
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Putting on or taking off their coat and shoes
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Using cutlery and drinking from an open cup
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Practising sharing and taking turns with toys
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Describing how they are feeling and why
Peter Roderick, director of public health for City of York Council, says parents should not feel pressured about reaching certain milestones, but instead reach out for support where necessary.
“I don’t think there’s a single parent who hasn’t asked themselves, ‘Is my child at the right stage, and what do I need to do to help them meet that?'” he says.
“It’s about making sure they know who to turn to and what tools, techniques and tips you need if your child is a bit behind.”
For parents Rachel and Rumayna, who both have daughters starting school in York in September, the prospect is both exciting and a little daunting.
