It's believed the pandemic can't be used as an excuse for why a growing number children aren't ready for life in the classroom. 

Some primary schools are reporting record levels of children arriving without basic skills such as talking, eating, and toileting. 

Auckland Primary Principals' Association President and Milford School Principal Lucy Naylor told Kerre Woodham this was the case immediately after Covid, but it's still continuing. 

She says some Covid babies are now well established in school, so it's concerning there's been no improvement. 

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