Talking Tables Training

In September, the nursery Pactitioners went on Speech and Language training. This was to seek further advice on speech and language activities that can be used in nursery to support children's language development.
Speech and Language is a crucial part of children's learning and it builds solid foundations for children to then learn in all other areas. It is the most important part of your child's learning development. There are many ways that you can support your child in being a good communicator. Playing with your child is a great way to model language for them. It doesn't matter what the game is. It can be playing with a ball, a board game, animals etc etc. Parents should talk about what they are doing and provide a running commentary for children, "my horse is thirsty, he needs a drink, I wonder what he would like?" This can be carried out with all general routine actvities, giving children a bath, cleaning their teeth, making their food, travelling to nursery. These are perfect times to talk to children about what the weather is like, what letters and numbers you can see in the environment, talk about crossing OVER the road, walking NEXT TO Mummy/Daddy, talk about exercise and how walking is good for them, the traffic lights, cars, people on bikes, the list of possible communication interests goes on and on. This is especially important if your child is not a confident talker or does not talk in clear, full sentences.
When children are not talking appropriately for their age group it has an inpact on all areas of their learning development.

Here is an example of speaking goals in the seven areas of learning:

30-50 months, approx age 3-4 years 

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Children should be aiming to keep their play with friends going, responding to what children are saying to them and offering other ideas and suggesstions. They should be able to inititate conversations with their friends and adults.
Children are aiming to talk confidently about their family and community and be able to ask for help.

Communication and Language Development

Children should be aiming to join in with songs and stories they are familiar with and follow directions.
Begin to understand and respond to 'why' and 'how' questions. Understand prepositions such as 'on top' 'behind' 'under'
Begining to use more complex sentences, questions why things happen and gives explanations.
Uses a range of tenses eg, play, playing, played

Physical Development

Children should be aiming to tell adults when they are hungry or tired and clearly communicte a need for the toilet.

Literacy Development

Children should be aiming to be aware of the way stories are structured, suggest how a story might end. Describe main story settings, events and principle characters.
Talk about marks they see in the environment, asking what symbols, signs, notices etc might mean or say.

Mathematics

Children should be aiming at reciting numbers in order to 10. Using positional language. Talks about the similarities of shapes in the environment eg "that wheel is a circle"
Begining to talk about the shape of every day objects 'round' 'tall' etc

Understanding the World

Children should be aiming to talk about significant events and describe special tims or eents for family or friends.
Comment and ask questions about aspects of the place they live or the natural world. Talk about the things they have observed such as plants, animals etc.

Expressive Arts and Design

Children should be aiming to describe the texture of things. Sing a few familiar songs.
Build stories around toys. Sings to self and makes up simple songs. Engage in imaginative role play based on first hand experiences.