Language promotion in the Early Years

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By Phoebe Doyle – educational writer

A crucial role of an early years practitioner is to boost communication skills. A communication expert gives take on how best to utilise sessions.

Children enter Early Years settings with a diverse range of language skills. As practitioners, we need to inspire all children to reach their potential in this most vital of skills.

‘In Early Years settings, there are many ways in which practitioners can support a child’s speech, language and communication development,’ says Kate Freeman from the children’s communication charity I CAN ( www.ican.org.uk ).

Kate believes it’s not a case of necessarily devising specific activities for language promotion, more that good Early Years practitioners should use everyday routines to support development. ‘Mealtimes or snack times, tidying up, putting coats on for outside play all lend themselves as communication development opportunities,’ she urges.