In Nursery we are passionate about creating opportunities for children to communicate more easily through developing language and communication skills and specifically teaching vocabulary. we wish our children to believe in themselves and their abilities and capabilities, to belong to the school learning community and the wider community and to become successful in their academic career and beyond. 

We recognise that language and communication are vital in all areas of a child's development. We welcome children from culturally diverse backgrounds and many of our children are at an early stage of learning English as an additional language (EAL). Communication and language development are therefore a consistent focus. We support children's development by providing a rich language environment, where conversations, singing and sharing stories become a regular part of children's day.

In addition to Read Write Inc. Nursery resources we have 'core books' which we read frequently with the children. These books are the type of books that can be re-visited again and again, on different levels to support language development. The idea is that children will develop language and increase vocabulary in addition to gaining a love of books and will become very familiar with these known texts so that they can remember and re-tell them.  

Communication and Language

INTENT STATEMENT:

OVERVIEW

At St Francis Xavier Primary School we foster and capitalise on children’s instinctive need and desire to communicate by:

• Role modelling the qualities and characteristics of a good communicator
• Immersing children in a rich environment of words, sounds, rhythm, verbal and non-verbal expression
• Engaging children in conversation
• Providing genuine reasons, irresistible provocations and a real purpose to listen and talk
• Valuing the different ways and means that children use to communicate

Communication and Language

 IMPLEMENTATION STATEMENT:

Communication and Language is a fundamental core skill. It is the key to enabling children to achieve and provides the strong foundations for future learning. It is promoted through a language rich ethos and environment in which adults narrate, ask questions, model thinking, provide a running commentary, repeat and extend language and give children reasons and a desire to talk.

At the planning stage new and ambitious vocabulary linked to the theme is identified and displayed within our environment in the form of words and sentences acting as visual prompts for adults and children. Careful consideration is also given to how children develop listening, attention and understanding to improve speaking skills.

Within our school adults actively seek and plan for opportunities to provoke talk. It is also taught through direct teaching e.g. daily group times, snack times and story and rhyme time.

• A Curiosity Cube and a Wonder Area are used to display intriguing objects and pictures and children are encouraged to describe, discuss and ask questions about what they see.
• The Investigation Area is used to pose questions and extend language through observing change, growth and new life.
• Enhancements are regularly added to all areas of the provision as a stimulus to inspire interest and engage children in talk e.g. setting up a scenario in the Role Play area such as a burglary or party to encourage discussion and problem solving.

Adults have a sound knowledge and deep understanding of how children learn to talk. They move fluidly around the environment modelling the qualities of a good communicator and searching for and capitalising on opportunities to engage with children in conversation.

IMPACT STATEMENT:

 By the end of my time in Nursery I will know how to…

• Express opinions, feelings and ideas

• Ask questions

• Retell in sequence Use a range of vocabulary

• Make positive relationships

• Give reasons

• Speak in a full sentence

• Participate in discussion

• Take turns in conversation

• Describe and explain