Pre-Nursery
In Pre-Nursery, language is closely connected to children's personal, social and emotional development. Grounded in the Birth to 5 Matters principles of positive relationships and unique children, our youngest learners are discovering how they can use sounds, gestures, facial expressions and words to communicate their needs, feelings and interests to the people around them. In our Early Years department, adults build secure attachments through warm, high-quality back-and-forth interactions. Through songs, rhymes, stories and shared play, adults model rich language and help children name their emotions, people, objects and describe every day actions. Children are also supported to listen to others, take turns and begin to communicate with their friends. Adults respond to children's attempts to communicate, helping them understand that their voice and actions have meaning and that they can influence the world around them. These early communication experiences help children feel understood while giving them the tools to express their feelings, connect with others and begin to develop positive relationships.
Nursery
In Nursery, language plays an important role in helping children make sense of the world around them. As part of Understanding the World, children are encouraged to talk about their families, communities, the people they meet and the experiences they have. Through immersive stories, open-ended conversations, role play and exploring their environment, children learn new vocabulary and begin to use it to describe what they see, notice and experience. At Britannica we nurture active inquiry by encouraging children to ask questions, share their ideas and listen to the ideas of others. These conversations help children understand that people can have different experiences and perspectives. Through these conversations, children develop their curiosity about the world, learn to appreciate the experiences of others and begin to understand their place within their family, school and wider community.
Reception
In Reception, we recognise that oracy and language are at the heart of learning. In line with the Birth to 5 Matters focus on active learning and critical thinking, we empower children to articulate their thoughts, ideas and feelings and to explain their thinking to others. In Literacy, children need to be able to think about and say what they would like to write before putting their ideas on paper. Developing articulate learners gives children the language they need to bring their ideas to life through writing. In Mathematics, we encourage children not only to give an answer, but to explain how they know it is correct. We also encourage children to listen carefully to others, build on their friends' ideas and use language to solve problems together. Through play, children are encouraged to talk about and explain their creations, making language an important part of every area of learning. Strong communication helps children express their needs and opinions, resolve problems with their friends and develop the confidence to participate independently in school and beyond.
Language is far more than a tool for academic success, it is the cornerstone of how our youngest children connect, understand, and thrive. In our Early Years department, we are committed to providing a language-rich environment where every child feels heard, valued, and inspired to express themselves. By embedding rich communication across every stage of learning here at Britannica, we ensure our children build the strong social, emotional, and cognitive foundations needed to navigate the world with confidence.
Jennifer Jacques
Reception Class Teacher
