Storytelling in Early Years is so much more than just reading words from a book. It’s about bringing a story to life, building language and fostering imagination. Children in our Early Years department are given the opportunities to listen to stories, use props to retell stories, act out the stories and even begin to draw story maps.
Storytelling allows children to make sense of the world through books that relate to their everyday lives. As they form an understanding of themselves and others, stories play a crucial role in building empathy and self-awareness, as well as shaping their perspective. Whether it’s a fairy tale about a princess with long curly hair, a story about a boy with a favourite food to eat, or a non-fiction book focusing on celebrations that are familiar to children, they love to listen to stories they can relate to and see themselves in.
Language learning in Early Years is all about context and play! In Pre-Nursery the children read The Three Little Pigs, and during Mandarin lessons it took on an exciting new twist. Because the children already know the plot, they could easily map new Mandarin vocabulary onto the characters, actions, and iconic moments (like huffing and puffing!). Reimagining beloved stories in Mandarin keeps language learning playful, memorable, and deeply engaging from our very youngest age groups up.
Language ability is no barrier when it comes to the magic of storytelling. Children rely on visual cues, physical actions, and tone of voice, so even our youngest learners can dive into Mandarin stories with complete confidence, absorbing the language without feeling overwhelmed, proving that storytelling is a universal language.
Our Nursery children have also been diving headfirst into the magical world of poetry! Far from just fun rhymes, poetry is a powerful engine for language learning and early storytelling. Reciting rhythmic poems and nursery rhymes helps children tune their ears to word patterns, expand their vocabulary, and understand story structure through short, memorable tales. Joining in with actions and rhyming refrains builds immense confidence in our youngest speakers!
In Reception, we bring storytelling to life using Tales Toolkit, an interactive, symbol-based approach that helps children create their own adventures from scratch. Guided by four simple universal symbols, Character, Setting, Problem, and Solution, the children use real-world objects, props, and continuous provision to create unique tales. This visual framework not only boosts confidence in oral storytelling, but it also lays the foundation for problem-solving, structured thinking, and early writing skills before children even pick up a pencil.
From exploring familiar tales in Mandarin to creating original adventures through Tales Toolkit and chanting rhythmic poetry, storytelling in Early Years is a rich, dynamic journey. By surrounding our children with stories in all their forms, we aren't just teaching them to read and speak, we are empowering them to make sense of the world, express their unique voices, and build a lifelong love of learning.
Lauren Olsen
Nursery Teacher
Head of EYFS
