The EYFS framework states, 'Parents may choose to have their children educated primarily in their home language and choose a provider specifically for this reason. As part of the learning and development requirements, providers should be able to support children to develop their communication, language and literacy skills in English.'
As children move into the Key Stage 1 curriculum, it says, 'English will be crucial as the language they use to access learning'.
This presented a problem for Azbuka nursery school in Richmond, London, which has an ethos of 'language immersion'.
Maria Gavrilova, who runs Azbuka nursery school, said, 'The children are immersed in the language environment with their classmates and peers on a daily basis. We don't learn Russian; we learn through play, in Russian.
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