It is crucial for children to develop a life-long love of reading. Reading consists of two dimensions: language comprehension and word reading. 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. 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. Writing involves transcription spelling and handwriting) and composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech, before writing).

Activities at Home

• Read stories

• Talk about the stories-what was your favourite/least favourite part and why 

• Act out the story for other people in your family to watch

• Help your child write their name-lower case letters with a capital letter at the start please!

• Come to our Phonics meeting in the Autumn Term so you can practice phonics with your child and other reading and writing skills