Communication and Language

 EYFS Statutory Educational Programme: The development of children’s spoken language underpins all seven areas of learning and development. Children’s back-and-forth interactions from an early age form the foundations for language and cognitive development. The number and quality of the conversations they have with adults and peers throughout the day in a language-rich environment is crucial. By commenting on what children are interested in or doing, and echoing back what they say with new vocabulary added, practitioners will build children’s language effectively.

 Reading frequently to children, and engaging them actively in stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems, and then providing them with extensive opportunities to use and embed new words in a range of contexts, will give children the opportunity to thrive. Through conversation, storytelling and role play, where children share their ideas with support and modelling from their teacher, and sensitive questioning that invites them to elaborate, children become comfortable using a rich range of vocabulary and language structures.  - Development matter 2021

How we support Communication and Language:

• Creating language rich activities in all areas of the preschool inside and outside for the children to explore. 
• The adults role model and support the children to use the provided resources to extend their learning and build up their confidence and vocabulary. 
• By enabling all ages of children to mix together, this encourages high level of interaction and enables the children to experience different levels and ways of language and communication. 
• We closely monitor and track the children's learning, when a child needs intervention we closely work alongside Parent/Carers and other professionals to get the best support for the children. 

We create an enabling environment for Communication and Language by: 

• Spirals sessions 

Spiral session are a 20 minute small group sessions where adult led activities are used to build upon the children's confidence in language and emotional literacy. These activities include practical games and activities over a 12 week period.  The activities cover important areas of language development and expansion, early pragmatic skills, listening skills, social skills, critical thinking skills, self esteem and self confidence 

 https://www.spiralstraining.co.uk/ 

• WellComm Programme: a Speech and Language Toolkit for screening a Intervention in the early years; Revised Edition 

The WellComm Programme is an innovative screening and intervention package designed for use with children aged 6 months to 6 years. The WellComm Screening tool enables practitioners to regular profile children's speech and language and to identify children at risk of developing delayed communication skills. the WellComm Toolkit contains three main elements: Screening, intervention, Working with parents, Support and measuring progress. 

• 1-1 sessions

The Settings SENCO and the child's key person regularly have 1-1 sessions with individual children that are in need of support with communication and language. This can often be with one other child or in small group. This is to enable peer role modelling and to help develop social skills and confidence to play alongside other children. 

The importance of reading at home 

Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become a part of a child's life, learning to read will be as natural as learning to walk and talk.  Even after children learn to read by themselves, it's still important for you to read aloud together.  - ReadingRockets.co.uk 

Reading to children stimulates their mind, ignites their imagination and encourages development of communication and language development, listening and attention skills and prepares them to understand written words. 

If your home routine allows, reading to your child(ren) is very effective for your children's development when carried out daily. We have found the most appropriate  time seems to be after bath time to have some nice quiet time before bed. If you would like any further advice around reading with your child(ren) please ask a member of staff any time. 

Lending Library 

Each setting offers a Lending Library where children can choose a book from the preschool, enjoy it at home and then when finished bring it back and swap it for another one. We ask that parents/carers sign in and out the books borrowed to help us to keep track of them and that all books and the bags are treated with respect to help the children to understand the importance of looking after our books.