Using the bottle, still in nappies, unable to talk – and starting school, Hounslow’s teachers say the number of underdeveloped children in the classroom is on the rise.

In a council report aimed at looking into ways to improve pre-school services, inspectors found too many children were starting school overweight, unable to speak and lacking basic motor skills.

Concerns were raised over pupils’ obesity, which is up 16 per cent in year 6 pupils, and children’s inability to communicate – referrals to language therapists have increased four-fold in five years.

A Feltham primary school teacher, who asked not to be named, said: “It is unbelievable how some children start school not knowing even how to use the toilet, and find it very difficult to express themselves.

“I have had children going to the toilet in the classroom.

“Some of their skills, such as language, are so under- developed, including their ability to understand instructions.”

The report, discussed by the council’s children and young people scrutiny panel on Tuesday, focuses on how children’s centres can improve the skills of school starters and break down the cycle of crime and poverty often perpetuated by poor early development.

Hounslow has 11 centres, which work with about 2,400 pre-school children and their families each year, and three more are due to open next year.

They aim to provide early education and childcare support for parents, family health services and initiatives to help parents get back into work.

However, while councillors found the level of service was improving, a number of the centres were found to be underperforming.

The report did highlight one children’s centre – Beavers, in Salisbury Road, Hounslow – as being the benchmark for other centres to aim for.

Set up in 2001 as the borough’s first children’s centre, Beavers is having a notable impact on its community, with councillors reporting fewer children in nearby schools suffering with lack of development.

A council spokesman said: “Bringing up children is not an easy job, and many families need our advice and support.

“Supporting the development of children under the age of five is a key ambition of children’s centres.

“They provide a range of services to encourage children and their families to gain the developmental skills needed to successfully move into infant school.”

To find your nearest children’s centre, visit hounslow. gov.uk/childrenscentres or call 0800 7831696.

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