Nurture

Principle 4 – Language is a vital means of communication

Key Messages:

  • All practitioners engage with emerging literacy training and understand that language is the main way that humans communicate and  comprises not only of talking but also, writing and gesture.
  • The practitioners employ a range of strategies and interventions to support language development and communication developmentally.
  • Experiences and resources are developmentally appropriate for all children.
  • Practitioners actively model and support the development of language for all children.
  • Practitioners use body language and facial expressions when communicating with children.
  • Children are valued as communicators.
  • The child’s voice is present throughout the setting, including verbally, mark-making, adult scribing, photos.
  • Keyworker and small group times are unrushed, planned for, and used effectively to allow all children to have an opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings.  In addition, practitioners sensitively support the development of language.
  • Cosy nooks and quiet areas are present throughout the environment, indoors and out.
  • The environments are literacy-rich, with developmentally appropriate books, listening stations, puppets, and mark-making experiences accessible throughout the setting.  Practitioners can use the CIRCLE Literacy Rich Environment Tool to support improvement and change.
  • Roleplay and home areas are used effectively by practitioners to support children with their language and communication skills.
  • The setting adopts a range of strategies to ensure families are actively encouraged to support children’s language development at home.

 

Ways we can do this:

“Positive relationships are at the heart of the school/ELC setting and are seen as underpinning all successful learning and teaching.”

(Applying Nurture as a Whole School Approach, Education Scotland, p. 14)

All practitioners engage with emerging literacy training.

Adults model correct grammar and oral language.

Practitioners demonstrate an understanding of the stages of early language development and support children individually.

Early intervention processes are in place, with tools such as the WellComm Screening Toolkit and developmental milestones (see SBC Developmental Overviews on tabs at the bottom of the emerging literacy page) to track progress, bridge gaps, plan support, and target interventions for individuals.

Settings have strong working relationships with outside agencies, e.g. SaLT.

Settings work closely with families to support language development, signposting them to help, such as Wee Talk Borders.

Story or rhyme of the week is shared with families in various mediums, e.g. paper copies, voice recordings, video recordings.  As a result, all families have access to a collection of rhymes and stories, bridging gaps in language development and quality of experiences at home.

Practitioners model language, using object signifiers, words, gestures, e.g. Sign-along, images or pictures to ensure understanding.

A literacy-rich environment supports language development.  Cosy nooks and quiet areas are well planned with various developmentally appropriate resources to encourage chat and interactions.

Learn More  

Nurture Principle 1.  Children’s learning is understood developmentally

Nurture Principle 2.  The environment offers a safe base

Nurture Principle 3.  The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing

Nurture Principle 5.  All behaviour is communication

Nurture Principle 6.  The importance of transition in children’s lives