As the eyes of the nation flit between the dramas of Westminster, Wigan and the World Cup, there is no shortage of high-profile theatre from which to spin stories of national identity, decline or renewal. Yet on the great stage of British public life, there is a bleaker, more human-scale drama playing out. It’s a story unfolding in nurseries and primary schools, family homes and dentists’ surgeries. It is a simple story, and one that should convict the consciences of us all – Britain is no longer taking care of its children.
According to research by Kindred Squared, one in four children arrive at school still not toilet trained. Another study found that one in four five-year-olds suffer from tooth decay
Talk to a teacher. Talk to parents. If you aren’t seeing it with your own eyes in the deteriorating behaviour of children, you’ll hear about it from friends and family. According to research by Kindred Squared, one in four children arrive at school still not toilet trained. Another study found that one in four five-year-olds suffer from tooth decay. Overall, 37 per cent of children starting their reception year are unprepared in some way, from attempting to tap and swipe physical books to lacking basic language skills. According to research by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), last year saw an all-time record for exclusions of primary schoolchildren, driven by a more than 70 per cent increase in reports of violence by children against teachers and one another.
