Reading and writing are key skills for learning and life. Research shows that strong literacy skills are closely linked to children’s speech, language, and communication development. When children can understand and use language well, they are more likely to succeed with reading and writing too.
Here’s what can work best—at school and at home:
At school:
- Phonics is taught step-by-step to help children learn how sounds link to letters
- Teachers build vocabulary and language skills to support reading comprehension
- Classrooms use spoken language activities—like storytelling and discussion—to build language foundations
- Schools provide extra support for children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
- Interventions are most effective when they’re regular, focused, and delivered by trained staff
- Teachers model language and support children to use full sentences when speaking and writing
At home:
- Read with your child regularly, talking about the story and asking open-ended questions
- Play word games, sing rhymes, and explore new words together in everyday situations
- Encourage your child to retell stories or explain their thinking out loud—this builds sentence structure
- Use clear, simple language and give your child time to respond
- Praise effort and communication, not just correctness
Strong speaking and listening skills help children understand what they read and express themselves in writing. When families and schools work together, children get the best start in literacy and learning.
Sources:
- Education Endowment Foundation (2023)
- Law, J. et al. (2017) Language as a Child Wellbeing Indicator
- Scarborough, H. (2001) The Reading Rope
- Gascoigne, M. (2006) Supporting SLCN in Integrated Services