New entrants are needing more help than ever.  

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

Data from the Auckland Primary Principals’ Association shows 92% of schools report new entrants don’t know the letters in their own name. 

Director of New Shoots Children's Centre Kelly Seaburg told Mike Hosking there isn't good data on what kids have learned prior to attending school. 

She says they know whether children have attended Early Childhood Education, but they have no idea how many hours they’ve spent there. 

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