- The early years are a unique opportunity to provide experiences which can build the architecture of children’s braindevelopment (1001 critical days)
- “Children with poor vocabulary skills at age 5 are more likely to have reading difficulties as an adult, more likely to have mental health problems, and more likely to be unemployed.” (The EIF Matrix)
- “It’s the early language skills which are the foundations on which reading well at school is based.” (Report of HM ChiefInspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills 2015)
Children need to learn to:
- understand words, sentences and conversation
- Learn how to talk using words and sentences (expressive language)
- Sayspeechsoundscorrectlysothey can be understood by others
- Know how to use their language socially (pragmatic language)
At Wheatley Nursery School we pride ourselves in having a communication friendly environment that develops all children’s language however they communicate.
We use a tool called WELLCOMM to assess where children are with their language development and then plan interventions to help them reach the next stage.
Through the children’s interests, fascinations and cultural capital opportunities we develop the children’s vocabulary and motivation for communication.
Below are some documents to help you support your children’s language development at home.
Ages and stages (speechandlanguage.org.uk)