Literacy
Literacy lays the foundation for reading, writing, and overall language development in young children. It’s not just about learning to read and write in the traditional sense, but also about fostering a love of language, books, and communication. Early literacy activities are crucial for building the skills children need to succeed in school and beyond.
Here are the key elements of literacy development in our nursery:
1. Language Development
- Listening Skills: Children develop the ability to understand spoken language, which is a precursor to reading. They learn to listen attentively to stories, conversations, and instructions.
- Speaking Skills: Encouraging children to express themselves verbally helps with vocabulary development, sentence structure, and communication.
- Vocabulary Building: Exposure to a rich vocabulary through storytelling, singing, and conversation helps children expand their word bank, which is key for both speaking and understanding text.
2. Print Awareness
- Understanding Print: Children begin to recognise that print has meaning. They may start identifying letters, words, and even some signs and labels around them.
- Book Handling Skills: Learning how to handle books properly (turning pages, looking from left to right) is an early literacy skill that also connects the child to the experience of reading.
3. Phonological Awareness
- Rhyming and Sounds: Nursery activities often include songs, rhymes, and word games that help children recognise sounds, syllables, and the rhythm of language.
- Letter Recognition: Children begin to recognise and name letters of the alphabet. They may also begin to associate sounds with letters, a critical skill for later reading.
4. Storytelling and Narrative Skills
- Story Comprehension: Children listen to and participate in storytelling, which helps them understand narrative structure (beginning, middle, end), characters, and events.
- Expressing Ideas: Children may also start creating their own stories, helping to develop both their verbal and cognitive skills.
5. Early Writing Skills
- Mark Making: Before they can write letters and words, children engage in "mark-making" with crayons, pencils, or markers. This helps develop fine motor skills necessary for writing.
- Drawing: These early activities support later writing, as children begin to understand that marks on paper can represent their thoughts and ideas.
6. Reading with Adults
- Shared Reading: Reading aloud with children is one of the most effective ways to foster literacy. It introduces new vocabulary, concepts, and a love of stories.
- Engagement with Books: In the nursery, children often engage in shared reading activities, where they interact with the story by pointing to pictures, repeating words, or predicting what happens next.
7. Environment and Resources
- Book Availability: Our nursery provides access to age-appropriate books, including picture books, board books, and storybooks.
- Print-Rich Environment: Labels, posters, and signs around the nursery provide children with visual access to language in their everyday environment.
8. Encouraging a Love for Reading
- Creating Interest in Books: Reading and looking at books are enjoyable activities in the nursery, which helps children build a positive relationship with reading.
- Storytime: Regular storytime sessions expose children to a variety of books, which improves their listening skills and fosters an appreciation for literature.
9. Support for Diverse Learners
- English as a Second Language (ESL): For children who are learning English as a second language, nursery literacy programs often include activities to support language development and encourage bilingualism.
- Special Needs Support: Children with speech or literacy delays may receive tailored interventions to meet their specific needs.
Key Benefits of Early Literacy Development in a Nursery:
- Builds a strong foundation for later academic success.
- Improves cognitive skills, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving.
- Fosters emotional and social skills through shared activities like reading and storytelling.
- Promotes a lifelong love for books and learning.