School readiness in the North East: Why it matters more than ever
Over the Easter break, we were invited to share our insights with the BBC on the pressing issue of school readiness in the North East.
While it’s encouraging to see national media paying attention to early years education, the reality on the ground is far from reassuring… and our school leaders are sounding the alarm.
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, represented our network of 1,150 schools as he explained school readiness is not just a buzzword, but rather a serious, growing concern.
A growing challenge for schools and families
Nationally, one in three children starting Reception in 2024 were not deemed school ready. In the North East, that number may be even higher.
Head Teachers across our region tell us they’re seeing more children struggling with basic developmental skills: not toilet trained, unable to sit still or follow simple instructions, and lacking the ability to play, share, or communicate their needs.
One local Head Teacher described how staff had already carried out over 150 nappy changes in school this year. Of course, that’s time that should have been spent learning. Another spoke of children who couldn’t sit on the carpet due to lack of core strength, having missed out on nursery altogether.
These are not isolated cases, but part of a wider trend that is eating into precious teaching time (up to 2.4 hours lost per day!) and affecting every child in the classroom.
The causes: A perfect storm
While the problem isn’t new, it’s been drastically accelerated by a perfect storm of recent pressures. Years of fragmented early years services were dealt a final blow by COVID-19.
With nurseries, toddler groups, and speech therapy halted overnight, families lost vital support. In many cases, children spent those formative years isolated with screens rather than engaged in social or physical play.
The collapse of the health visitor system has left further gaps. One in five children in the North East entered school with no health visitor input at all, and over 40% of health visitors have been lost nationally since 2015.
That’s time lost for spotting early needs, offering parenting support, and preparing families for school life.
Add to this the cost-of-living crisis, and you have families stretched to their limits—emotionally, financially, and physically. Parents want to do the right thing, but many are juggling shift work, second jobs, or caring responsibilities.
They are exhausted, and their children are entering school less prepared as a result.
Where do we go from here?
First and foremost, Chris explained to the BBC, we need a shared understanding of what school readiness actually means.
It’s not about academic ability, but instead about the practical skills that allow children to access learning: toileting, communication, social and emotional regulation, and basic independence.
Clear national guidance and consistent use of frameworks like Development Matters could help align expectations across homes, nurseries, and schools.
We also need real investment in early intervention. The economic case is already clear: every £1 spent in early childhood saves around £17 down the line.
But more importantly, it means giving every child the best start in life. That means reversing cuts to health visiting, restoring this critical link between services and families, and making sure no child slips through the cracks.
Above all, we must support parents, not blame them. Families need clarity, guidance, and access to support. Not judgement.
A national campaign on school readiness, backed by Family Hubs and community-based services, would be a powerful step forward.
Amplifying the voice of our schools
School readiness is about more than a child’s first day of school—it’s about the foundations for their future life. If we get this right, we improve not just educational outcomes but health, wellbeing, and opportunity. But that starts with investment in families, in early support, and in rebuilding the systems that help children thrive.
As we said during our BBC interview, this is about building the foundations for life, not just education. And it was crucial we shared this critical topic with the entire region.
By bringing school leaders’ experiences to wider audiences, we’re ensuring their concerns are not only heard but acted upon. Because when schools speak, we must listen—and when families ask for help, we must be ready to provide it.
Schools North East is a movement for change, giving a voice to North East schools in the national education debate. We are for all North East schools, regardless of size, type, faith, structure or location. And that extends to families, too.