Communication & Language at Oakwood Infant and Nursery School

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 Matters – Non-statutory guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage)

In light of the above statement, Communication and Language is an important driver in our curriculum. Our Early Years setting has been awarded the status of 'Communication Friendly Early Years Setting'. Staff have undertaken comprehensive training to further their understanding of the importance of the development of communication skills in young children. They have acquired an excellent knowledge of how and when to interact effectively with children to allow for the acquisition of contextual vocabulary and its development and use. We ensure that all children are given every opportunity to develop their Speech, Communication and Language skills within the setting.