What your child needs to be able to do before reception - from toilet training to sleep

What your child needs to be able to do before reception - from toilet training to sleepParents receiving their child's all-important primary school offers have been advised to ensure the youngsters have hit a series of critical benchmarks before they startNewsLiam Doyle15:52, 16 Apr 2026View 6 ImagesChildren should have hit several important milestones by the time they reach reception(Image: South Wales Echo)Parents across the UK will today be learning where their children will be starting primary school this September - giving them just a few months to prepare for a landmark move teachers have warned many are not ready.‌The first acceptances will have rolled in overnight, some from Midnight, and the Department for Education has rolled out new advice geared at parents to help them prepare for the major step. British teachers have said an increasing number of children are coming into new schools without basic skills, including in toilet training and communication.‌The warning has led some cities to roll out pilot schemes targeting these vital skills many children should already know, and the Government is aiming to have 75 percent at a good level of development by the time they leave reception. Officials have outlined exactly which skills parents should ensure their children have as they enter their first year at primary school.‌READ MORE: How to appeal primary school place if you don't get the spot you want for kidsREAD MORE: Secrets of a perfect family holiday revealed - they’re simpler than you thinkView 6 ImagesChildren should know how to use the toilet as they arrive in reception(Image: SWNS.com)Toilet training and independence skillsPotty training should usually start a matter of years before children enter primary school, with parents recommended to start preparing their tots between the ages of 18 months and three years.But many children are coming to their first schools without having been trained on this key skill, which teachers have warned to pr...