Educational Programmes – Taken from 'The Statutory Framework of the Early Years'

Educational programmes must involve activities and experiences for children, as set out under each of the areas of learning.

Communication and Language

 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, story-telling 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.