Year after year, the data paints an even more troubling picture. The 2025 Kindred Squared School Readiness Survey confirms what teachers and health professionals have been warning:
a third (33%) of children starting Reception this year were not school-ready—a crisis with devastating long-term consequences.
In an average Reception classroom today:
📌 45% of children cannot sit still
📌 34% don’t respond to simple instructions
📌 36% struggle to play or share with peers
📌25% are not toilet-trained
📌 90% of teachers report language delays, with some children unable to respond to their own name—a skill expected of a 9-month-old baby.
The elephant in the room? Excessive screen time.
The report explores multiple causes, but screen time stands out as a major factor. Teachers and parents are deeply concerned:
📱 54% of teachers say parents are spending more time on screens than engaging with their children.
📱 54% of teachers believe children are exceeding the recommended two hours of screen time per day.