Key topics
Best practice for early years environments
2 Mar 2012
Good practice allows the development of the child’s intellectual and emotional growth, through interactive play to encourage the child to learn. The adults in the child’s life should set positive and supportive examples such as talking and interacting with the child from as young as infancy to reinforce actions such as the child’s ability to learn to communicate their emotions. Good practice supports an adult/children interaction where the child learns through the example of the adult from things similar to their facial expressions.
News archives about good practice
- Colour and clutter can dim minds of pupils - complicated displays of artwork may hamper children's progress
- Language enrichment - Lynch Hill Primary School praised for communication, language and literacy
Involving infants in good practice
- Home and away - talk is not the only way to communicate with nursery newcomers finding themselves in an adult-led world (Nursery World)
- Supporting babies and young children's early language development (covers areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage)
- The importance of non-verbal interactions for under-threes (covers areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage)
Communication Information for Good practice
- It's time to talk - a range of strategies for early years practitioners to address both the linguistic and social aspects of children's language learning (Nursery World, 11.08.05)
- Mind your language - key behaviours for practitioners to support children's language development, identified by the Communicating Matters project
- Speak up - an article about the importance of human interaction in children's communication development
- Speech and language delay at Bognor Regis nursery school
- How early years practitioners can encourage parents to talk to their children
Suggested Books and resources for Best practice
- Early Years Foundation Stage - statutory early years curriculum for under fives across the early years sector.
- Place to Talk - a series of books about creating enabling environments
- Early communication and good manners - an article from Dr William Sears, co-author of The Good Behaviour Book
- Barnsley PCT Early Communication Screening Tool - a new tool to help referrals
Play
Play is an important part of learning for under three's. Get more information about healthy forms of active play.
Baby signing
Baby signing is a creative form of communication to interact with the child as well as educate the baby.
