Listening and Talking forms an integral part of all curricular areas and in addition to the wealth of opportunities to develop listening skills, focus and concentration as well as language skills, talk is not just about talking! Talking is the precursor to communicating through writing.

We endeavour to provide opportunities in Nursery for children to build confidence in talking and promote active listening as individuals, within small groups and during whole class discussions. We set time aside each week so that the children can take part in small group times to focus on language skills and these are used in a range of ways.

Chat Book Time - this is where each child’s voice is heard and is recorded carefully by staff who scribe what has been shared. Each child has their own colour of pen and the books are used by staff as an assessment tool, tracking each child’s development. Contributions are valued equally and staff model quality interactions. By using skilful questioning and introducing new or descriptive vocabulary, this time can also be used to support the children’s acquisition of language. Our Chat Books are shared with families throughout the year which capture each child’s voice and their mark making.

The team might also introduce the children to a Floor Book which provides opportunities for staff to collect children’s thoughts and ideas. The children may add photographs, make their own marks, add their own art or watch staff create mind maps about a specific focus. Floor Books are always available for children to add to, look through and share with one another.

The children will also use their skills to develop relationships, make choices and of course, acquire new vocabulary and begin to follow instructions.

We help the children to be able to follow a series of instructions and you can help them to do this at home too. We might ask the children to repeat the instructions back to us in order to show their understanding. It is important that they learn to be able to follow instructions without the need for reminders.