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Reading

Reading in Early Years

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, enjoyment of rhymes, poems and songs shared together. Reading skills enable pupils to make a connection to their immediate environment and the wider world. These skills can be transferred to other areas of learning for example practising directed eye movements to scan pictures relates to scanning a plate of food and choosing what to eat next.  Many emergent skills can develop to reading skills such as sensory activities, looking to and fro, passing things from hand to hand, visual following and enjoyment from storytelling.  Reading activities will develop anticipation, engagement and choice-making skills.  The Early Years’ environment and planning incorporates a variety of reading and language activities and resources to encourage the development of the early stages of language and reading comprehension.  The table below demonstrates some examples.

Literacy Development

Activity
Outcomes/Experiences
Cross Curricula links
Resources Examples

Sensory Story

ICT  focused activities

Therapies

Sensory mark making

Pre-writing

Tac Pac

Role play area

Dressing up

Sensory room

Cooking

Language/speech development -Pecs, objects of reference, Makaton.

Music –Musical communication,

Music and movement, music therapy.

Play -structured and unstructured, indoor/outdoor

Parachute/circle games

Phonics, Song & Rhyme

Adult led activities- welcome, time, creative, lunch/snack time, 1:1 personal care time

A sense of fun and personal satisfaction

Self esteem

Choice making

Turn taking

Team work

Making a positive contribution

A sense of own feelings and emotions – likes and dislikes

Appropriate behaviour

Personal safety

Fine and gross motor skills

 

Communicative and ICT Development

Numeracy Development Literacy Development

Personal Social and Emotional Development

Physical Motor and Sensory Development

Knowledge and Understanding Development

Creative Development

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental signs

PECs

Story sacks

Sensory/interactive stories

ICT - Plasma screen, Switch it maker, Helpkidzlearn, switches.

Library/Big Books

Sensory room

Speech and Language activities- AE, play and talk boxes, Identiplay

Dressing up and role play props/areas.

Music- song time

Music and movement

Messy play – sensory mark making

TAC PAC – Pre – reading

Mirrors

Cause and effect toys