Literacy

Literacy is one of the four specific areas. It is crucial for children to develop a life-long love of reading. Reading consists of two dimensions: language comprehension and word reading.

Reading comprehension

Language comprehension (necessary for both reading and writing) starts from birth. It only develops when adults talk with children about the world around them and the books (stories and non-fiction) they read with them, and enjoy rhymes, poems and songs together. Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage

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Exploring words

Skilled word reading, taught later, involves both the speedy working out of the pronunciation of unfamiliar printed words (decoding) and the speedy recognition of familiar printed words. Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage

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Writing

Writing involves transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech, before writing). Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage

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Resources

Birth to 5 Matters resources for literacy.

Development Matters guidance for literacy.

The National Literacy Trust resources and tools for early language development and parental engagement.