Parents need to encourage children to read and play

About 60% of head teachers questioned said few children could recite a nursery rhyme when they started school.

And they said less than half of five-year-olds started school with basic talking and listening skills.

A similar number can recite numbers in order and just one in five can write their own name.

The views were revealed in a Basic Skills Agency report on Monday.

The agency urged parents to regularly read and talk with their children - or risk them falling behind when they start at primary school.

Reading report

Seven hundred and sixteen head teachers in Wales gave their perceptions of children's skills when they start school.

How to improve skills Talking, listening and responding to children Playing Singing nursery rhymes Play with other children Read report in full

Most reported a fall in standards of basic skills like talking voluntarily to others, talking about personal experiences, recognising their own names and counting to five.