Communication language and literacy

This area of children's development covers:

• being able to use conversation with one other person, in small groups and in large groups to talk with and listen to others;
• adding to their vocabulary by learning the meaning of - and being able to use - new words;
• being able to use words to describe their experiences;
• getting to know the sounds and letters which make up the words we use;
• listening to - and talking about - stories;
• knowing how to handle books and that they can be a source of stories and information;
• knowing the purposes for which we use writing;
• making their own attempts at writing.