Children who are effective communicators are effective learners, so their language and communication skills must be well developed if they are to succeed in school and beyond.
Unfortunately, many young children in the UK are starting school with high levels of impoverished language, disadvantaged by limited vocabulary, immature grammar and the inability to express themselves clearly and confidently.
The concept of 'impoverished language' has been raised in several highly influential reports, notably I CAN's The Cost to the Nation of Children's Poor Communication, and the Bercow Review. The I CAN report asserts that up to 10 per cent of all children may have 'a long-term persistent communication difficulty', and 'upwards of 50 per cent of children on school entry have more transient difficulties'.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here