The councils where parents could get potty training support

More parents in England are set to receive extra support with toilet training their children before they start primary school.

Here’s what we know.

A pilot, trialled by City of York Council, saw potty-training advice sent to 1,700 families alongside school place offer letters in April, followed by a reduction in the number of children starting reception without being toilet trained compared to last year.

A survey of teachers by charity Kindred Squared, which funded the pilot, suggested around one in four children who started reception in 2025 were not toilet trained.

More about the scheme

Parent workshops and teacher training sessions were arranged to help with toilet training four-year-olds.

Community collaboration

There has been a 42 per cent decrease in the proportion of children starting school not toilet trained in York, the results from the pilot suggest.

‘Teachers losing a day a week’

Felicity Gillespie, chief executive of Kindred Squared, said parents and carers have been calling for “clear, concise, targeted advice” and that on average, teachers have been “losing the equivalent of a day a week of teaching time helping children who are not able to go to the toilet themselves”.

More classroom time

I think the biggest impact for us has been that we don’t have to spend so much time changing children now.

Jo Mould, a teacher at Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy, one of 55 schools which took part in the pilot, said it allowed teachers to spend more time in the classroom.

Safeguarding measures mean it takes two members of staff to change a child’s nappy, which takes time away from other children.

Making a ‘real difference’

Toilet training can be one of the biggest milestones in a child’s early years, so it’s encouraging to see this pilot helping more children develop the confidence and independence they need before starting school. When children are supported to take these important steps early, it can make a real difference to how they settle in, make friends and start learning.

Paul Waugh, minister for early education

More to follow?

Some 20 councils in England are now looking at following the York pilot, including:

Mortgage rates hit three-year high – here’s what to do

Mortgage rates are at their highest since 2023, with just nine sub-5 per cent fixed deals available.

The average two-year rate has reached 5.98 per cent and the five-year rate 6 per cent – their highest levels since December and September 2023, respectively.

Iran war stokes inflation fears

The past month has seen major banks hike prices several times, as financial traders have begun to expect that inflation will stay higher for longer as a result of the US-Iran war. Barclays increased fixed rates on four occasions, while HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Nationwide, NatWest, Santander and TSB each made three rounds of increases.

Vanishing act for fixed deals

1,494

There were 1,494 sub-5 per cent fixed deals at the start of September.

However, 1,385 of these have since vanished, according to Moneyfacts.

• Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said volatility has had a “brutal” impact on fixed mortgage rates.
• Nick Mendes, of John Charcol brokers, added that further increases “are likely while markets stay this unsettled”.
  

Huge impact on households

• Borrowers coming off fixed rates face a significant jump in payments.
• On a £250,000 mortgage with a 30-year repayment term, the difference between a five and six per cent rate is about £150 a month.

If you have a mortgage expiring later this year…

• Compare a wide range of lenders and banks – don’t settle for the one you’re currently with.
• Consider speaking to a broker to help you, as these are professionals who often have access to deals you can’t find online directly.
• Most lenders will let you lock in a rate several months before yours ends, help you avoid going on to a standard variable rate.

What to do if you’re buying…

Nationwide’s rate reservation tool lets you book a rate for up to 90 days.

Aaron Strutt, of Trinity Financial, said Nationwide’s rate reservation tool offers an exception to the general rule that if you’re buying a home, you need the seller to accept your offer before you can submit a full mortgage application.

Experts say it is still worth considering other lenders, though, to find your best fit.

New James Bond novel in the works from historian Dan Jones

Historian Dan Jones is set to pen a new James Bond novella as part of celebrations for the National Year of Reading.

The story was announced on 5 October, also known as James Bond Day as it was the date the first 007 film, Dr No, which premiered in 1962.

Where and when?

The new story will see Bond in Sri Lanka, in 1954 as the British are leaving.

Paying homage

The story, titled will pay homage to Ian Fleming’s fourth Bond novel, , 70 years after it was first published.

Available soon

It will be published as a special edition via ianflemingshop.com on 3 December.

‘A pivotal moment in history’

Being asked to write a   story is one of the greatest honours in contemporary fiction. I’m very excited to take  to Ceylon at such a pivotal moment in world history – and thrilled that Ian Fleming Publications are trusting me to pay tribute to Diamonds Are Forever, which is one of the great books in the  canon.

Dan Jones, historian and author

Fleming’s character lives on

Fleming wrote 12 Bond novels and two short-story collections between 1953 and his death in 1964. Numerous continuation authors have since added to the canon, most recently Charlie Higson with , released in September.

On the silver screen, there has been a long-running search for the next actor to play Bond since Daniel Craig’s departure.

The five best history books of all time, according to Dan Jones

Dan Jones has spent much of his career bringing some of history’s most colourful characters and turbulent periods back to life. So, when Jones picks up a history book for pleasure, it has a high bar to clear.

The BBC has appointed Rachel Jupp, its former director of documentaries and long-form journalism, as the corporation’s new director of news and current affairs.

It comes nearly a year after the previous chief, Deborah Turness, resigned following the fallout over how BBC edited a speech by Donald Trump.

Trump-Panorama controversy

The controversy that led to Turness’ resignation centred on a documentary about Trump’s role in the 6 January Capitol riot in 2021.

The documentary was accused of misleading viewers by splicing together parts of his speech delivered at different points. The row prompted a wider crisis over the BBC’s editorial standards.

Jupp, whose new role starts this month, said she was “honoured” to “lead BBC News”. BBC director-general Matt Brittin described Jupp her as “an outstanding editorial leader”.

Sweeping cuts

Jupp will have responsibility for a team of 4,500 people and will be paid a salary of £400,000.

Sweeping cuts

It comes as the BBC continues to make sweeping jobs cuts.

Bid to save £500m

Between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs are set to be axed in an attempt to save £500m over two years amid “significant financial pressures”.

BT agrees deal to save TalkTalk from administration

BT has agreed to buy TalkTalk’s consumer and wholesale businesses to save the company from collapse, ending months of speculation over the operator’s future.

BT chief executive Alison Kirkby said the £400m deal provided “a safety net” not only for TalkTalk’s 2.5 million customers, but also the company’s 900 staff.

However, rival operator Virgin Media has called the deal a “stitch up” which allows BT – the UK’s largest broadband provider – to “tighten its grip” over the market.

• BT said it stepped in amid a “”.
• The Government said it took urgent action to intervene after TalkTalk had failed to find a buyer.
• TalkTalk’s customers include , as well as connections that support across several sectors.

Takeover not yet approved

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) must approve the takeover, taking into account what would happen if TalkTalk was forced to exit the market. The regulator has until 19 October to deliver its verdict.

The Government has given itself the power to have the final say, though, citing TalkTalk’s importance to critical public services.

Phone and broadband services are vital national infrastructure. If TalkTalk services fail, there is a genuine risk to life and public services – including to hospitals, schools and emergency care. These are unprecedented circumstances that require action now.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy

What to know amid Russian plague outbreak fears

A laboratory worker at an institute in Siberia dedicated to researching the plague has died of a mysterious illness, prompting
Russian authorities to impose “anti-epidemic measures” in the local area.

Here’s what we know so far…

• Darya Shipilova was exposed to a pathogen after accidentally breaking a test tube at the Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, local media reported.
• Shipilova was hospitalised on 29 September with severe pneumonia of “unknown origin,” according to Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s infectious disease agency.
• She was placed on a ventilator but died shortly after.

Hospitals close

Several hospitals in the city of Irkutsk have closed for a three-week quarantine, local outlet reported.

Medical isolation

About 200 people suspected of having direct or indirect contact with Shipilova are said to be in medical isolation.

Closely monitored

Over 100 individuals are being monitored in hospital wards.

Irkutsk governor Igor Kobzev urged residents to remain calm, writing on Telegram that an anti-epidemic commission had met to address a “suspected case of a particularly dangerous infection”.

The White House is also monitoring the situation, a US official told Axios.

Criminal investigation opened

The Anti-Plague Institute is a major research and public health facility responsible for monitoring and preventing outbreaks of high-risk bacterial and viral infections across Siberia and Russia’s Far East. It employs around 95 researchers, per its website.

Russian law enforcement agencies have reportedly opened a criminal investigation into potential workplace health and safety violations resulting in the lab worker’s death.

• Kobzev said none of the deceased woman’s contacts were showing any signs of illness and testing had come back negative.
• Gennady Onishchenko, a former head of Rospotrebnadzor, said on Friday the infection was “most likely not the plague, but even if confirmed, there will be no spread of this disease”.

Easily transferable

There are no plague outbreaks.

Alexei Tsydenov, head of the neighbouring republic of Buryatia, said the employee died “possibly from the plague” but noted that “there are no plague outbreaks” in Buryatia.

Pneumonic plague, one of the three types of plagues caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, can be transmitted between people through respiratory particles.

Andrew taking legal action over police search warrants

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is taking legal action against Thames Valley Police in a bid to quash search warrants which led to his arrest. Here’s what we know.

Police investigation

Mountbatten-Windsor has been accused of sharing sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein.

• The former prince, who denies any wrongdoing, was detained on his 66th birthday in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
• He was interviewed under caution and released under investigation after being held in custody for around 11 hours.
• It came after emails appeared to show him sharing official documents with Epstein and others while serving as the UK’s trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.
• Police searched Mountbatten-Windsor’s property at Marsh Farm in Sandringham and his former Windsor home, Royal Lodge, for days after his arrest.

Andrew requests judge examine lawfulness of search warrants

Thames Valley Police is continuing its investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor, who is now taking legal action against the force.

He has requested that a judge examine the lawfulness of the search warrants, which were issued by an Old Bailey judge.

• A hearing into Mountbatten-Windsor’s legal claim will take place at the High Court at 2pm on Thursday, a judicial spokesperson confirmed on Monday.
• The spokesperson said it will feature a bid by Thames Valley Police to restrict access to court documents, with the hearing to begin in private.

It is currently not known whether Andrew will attend the hearing.

First public pushback since arrest

Mountbatten-Windsor’s legal action against the police is his first public pushback against his arrest.

Mountbatten-Windsor has already been stripped of his home and titles by King Charles, after emails showed he continued his relationship with Epstein beyond when he publicly said such links had been severed.