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This page covers the latest literacy news from the
early years sector in the last four weeks. To search for more
in-depth information or news and initiatives by subject area
please visit the site A-Z.
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For an archive of early years news from 2008, please visit the news archive.
The National Literacy Trust will be taking part in the Communication Friendly Spaces™ Exchange event, which takes place on 8 July at Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire. The Communication Friendly Spaces™ approach has been developed by Elizabeth Jarman to highlight the role of the learning environment in stimulating communication skills across the age ranges. The NLT contribution to the event will draw on experiences through our Talk To Your Baby campaign and Early Reading Connects. It will also share lessons from the Reading Gardens approach developed as part of the 2008 National Year of Reading. Other contributors include the National Strategies, ContinYou, Niace, ICAN, representatives from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Ofsted and many local authorities.
For details on the Communication Friendly Spaces™ Exchange visit www.elizabethjarmanltd.co.uk/exchange09.php.
Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) has reported that the Scottish Government is backing a pilot programme over £150,000 towards postgraduate degrees in early education for teachers at the University of Aberdeen as well as over £60,000 to the primary teaching degree with an early years specialism at the University of Stirling.
The announcement was made on Wednesday 20, May by Adam Ingram, the Children’s Minister, at the Early Years Framework conference in Edinburgh.
Read the report at www.LTScotland.org.uk/news/2009/educational/may/news
(LTS, 20 May 2009)
Nursery World has reported on Sir Jim Rose’s decision for early learning goals for literacy to stay in the Early Years Foundation Stage.Sir Jim recommends extending play-based learning from the EYFS into the primary curriculum to ease the transition for young children, particularly for summer-born children and those still working towards the Early Learning Goals.
Sir Jim was asked to review two of the literacy goals centred on children's ability to write simple sentences and use punctuation in simple sentences by the age of five - the goals 'use their phonic knowledge' and 'write their own names'.Instead of revising the goals, he has recommended that the Department for Children, Schools and Families should give extra guidance to early years teachers on how to support young children's emerging writing skills, with examples of how these two goals are being met by children.
The report recommends that summer-born children should start reception class in the September after their fourth birthday rather than the following January, but says that parents' views will be taken into account and in some cases children might start school part-time.
www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/902269/Early-learning-goals/
(Nursery World, 30 April 2009)
Nursery World has reported on the Early Years recommendations of the curriculum report. According to the cross-party group of MPs behind the report, the early learning goals for reading and writing in the Early Years Foundation Stage should be scrapped.
The Commons Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, which took evidence from early years experts, teaching unions and others, said last week that the goals for 'communication, language and literacy' have faced the strongest criticism. The report also disagrees with Sir Jim Rose's recommendation for it to become 'the norm' for children to start reception class the September after their fourth birthday.
Sir Jim Rose is currently reviewing two of the literacy goals centred on children's ability to write and use punctuation in simple sentences by the age of five - 'Use their phonic knowledge' and 'write their own names'. However, Nursery World reports that it is likely he will recommend that these two goals should stay in the EYFS.
Read more about the curriculum report here
Read the report at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa
Read the article and a full list of the goals at www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/
(Nursery World, 8 April 2009)
The Herald has reported that the Scottish Arts Council has agreed to fund all Edinburgh libraries with training and resources for the Bookstart Rhymetime project. The sessions involve action rhymes, songs and stories for toddlers up to three and their parents and carers. They are part of a free scheme, and designed to give more youngsters are to be given the chance to learn about literacy and music along with their parents after a free scheme was extended.
The Bookstart Rhymetime project manager, said: "Music is the perfect vehicle for learning, and is a way of communicating with your child before they can talk. Music-making can help to develop communication, maths, listening, concentration, sharing and social skills in under fives."
(The Herald, 2 April 2009)
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