This topic seems to have been in the news - a lot.
I'll warn you before reading that this issue of the First-Aid Room focuses on a very important topic that is increasingly common.
1. Earlier this year, in March, the BBC reported that staff in nurseries in some of the country's most deprived areas were being asked to supervise young children brushing their teeth under a new national toothbrushing programme.
2. At the turn of the New Year, a school in Lincolnshire and its headteacher, Mrs Boothe, were interviewed about the extra lengths they go to for their children, including teeth brushing, financial support and additional clothing.
3. In June 2024, a headteacher remarked on some students' lack of communicative skills and "a range of social issues unrelated to teaching.". The BBC reported, "At the start of Reception in September, eight of the 27 four-year-olds came to school in nappies".
It's clear that a few minutes on Google can produce several articles from schools across the country encountering similar issues with children's skills development - these are only a select few!
So, what does the data tell us, and how is this useful for you?