Communication and language is central to all we do within the early years. Our learning is based around high quality texts including non-fiction books, fiction books and poems. The books we use become central to our overarching topic meaning the children hear these texts a number of times fully embedding the learning of linked concepts and key vocabulary. We have recently introduced ‘The Poetry Basket’ into the early years phase which has proved hugely popular. ‘The Poetry Basket’ encourages children to learn one short poem every fortnight. The children explore the story behind the poems and practise reciting it daily.  Once the children’s confidence reciting the poem has grown we put on a very exciting performance for the rest of the infant school. 

In Nursery, the children’s phonics journey begins. The children will explore and manipulate sounds through free-play and focused activities. In Nursery, the children first begin exploring rhyme, alliteration and repeated refrains which all help their phonological awareness ready for beginning to learn through our phonics scheme, Floppy's Phonics, in Reception.