A FIFTH of parents surveyed in Oxford said they did not know what 'school ready' means - above the UK average of 17 per cent.

Nursery and childcare chain Busy Bees carried out the survey and said some children are at risk of falling behind before school.

Although the survey was of 1,500 people altogether, the Oxford respondents only numbered 86.

School readiness is a benchmark that considers a child’s ability to engage in early learning experiences.

It is typically defined by their capacity to perform skills that demonstrate independence and emotional development.