Early reading
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has named 2008 as the National Year of Reading. Mathew Little finds out how approaches to helping children learn to read vary between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
ENGLAND
The government's Early Years Foundation Stage covers the care, learning and development of children in early years settings from birth until their fifth birthdays. It becomes compulsory in September. The guidance says children's competence in "being read to and beginning to read" must be supported and extended. Reading should be about children understanding stories, books and rhymes, recognising that print carries meaning, reading words and simple sentences. Language development is best supported through activities that engage all the senses. The government has funded the charity Bookstart to give baby books to all new parents.
SCOTLAND
Curriculum for Excellence, the new approach to education in Scotland covering ages three to 18, will be introduced from August 2009. The Scottish Government says this will mean a greater emphasis on the teaching of talking and reading skills. All practitioners have a responsibility to develop literacy skills. According to Curriculum for Excellence, "spoken language has particular importance in the early years". The document argues that children's reading experiences begin with oracy - as oral language learners, children develop an increased vocabulary. Children should have a chance to choose, share and discuss books with practitioners, carers and parents.
WALES
The Welsh Assembly Government has launched the Language and Play project for parents and carers of birth to three-year-olds. The project is aimed at families outside Sure Start areas and can be used in parent and toddler groups, playgroups, clinics, family centres, nurseries and schools. The programme aims to encourage parents to share books and stories with babies and young children. Language and play co-ordinators have been appointed in each local authority area in Wales. A free guide book, Read with Me, is also available for parents of three- to seven-year-olds, and gives advice about how best to encourage their children to read books.
NORTHERN IRELAND
The Department of Education offers curricular guidance for pre-school education, which includes recommendations about teaching young children to read. The guidance says children in pre-school education should have access to a well-stocked collection of story and information books suited to their interests, race and culture. They should have opportunities in one-to-one situations and groups to listen to and join in with stories, rhymes and songs. Children are expected to begin to show an interest in print and become familiar with their own written names. Children should also be able to take books home to share with parents and carers.
