The government has backed a new guide aiming to help parents potty train their children.

The guide has been developed by the coalition of early years organisations behind Starting Reception, a set of online school readiness resources. It cites research showing that it is best for children to stop using nappies between the ages of 18 and 30 months.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “This government is determined to put the expert advice mums and dads need right at their fingertips, and this new guidance from early years experts will be a brilliant help in getting their children potty trained and ready for school. By giving families trusted support early on, we’re helping kids arrive at the school gates confident, ready to learn, and ready to shape their own future.”

The guide includes advice on encouraging a child to use a potty or toilet by reading a relevant book, helping their favourite doll or toy have a ‘turn’ on it and then encouraging them to sit on it themselves. It says regular potty sitting practice can begin early, building up to several times a day, and advises a diet which includes fibre and six to eight drinks of water.

Kindred Squared’s annual School Readiness Surveys show one in four children are not toilet-trained when they start Reception. Felicity Gillespie, director at Kindred Squared, said:  “Children should be out of all nappies between 18 and 30 months, well in advance of starting Reception year in school. Being toilet trained not only helps children feel confident and part of the group, but it also means teachers can spend more time teaching and supporting every child’s development.”

She added: “Of course we understand that all children develop at their own pace, and there are exceptions for certain medical conditions, but research shows it’s best for a child’s bowel and bladder health to stop using nappies between 18 and 30 months.”

Catherine Mole, chief executive at Dingley’s Promise, said: “At Dingley’s Promise, we are committed to ensuring that children with SEND in the early years are supported to develop and thrive alongside their peers. We welcome the introduction of this guide, which offers practical advice to families and educators to support the process of potty training.” 

She added: “The guide acknowledges that all children are unique and reach these milestones in their own time, but that they should be supported in a way which responds to individual need and motivations, to achieve these independent skills as early as possible as a key part of their developmental journey.”