Nursery World - Talkback

Reticent children show their talkative side in contexts outside of formal education As early years educators we cannot possibly know every context that 'switches on' individual children to talk and learn. But we do need to be aware of those people, environments and situations in which most young children gain confidence and are motivated to talk and begin formal learning positively.

As early years educators we cannot possibly know every context that 'switches on' individual children to talk and learn. But we do need to be aware of those people, environments and situations in which most young children gain confidence and are motivated to talk and begin formal learning positively.

The focus of my research was a thorough investigation into headteachers'

concerns that so many children were starting school, aged four, with talk too poorly developed for them to take full advantage of their early education. Part of my responsibility was to investigate those contexts that gave evidence of the four-year-olds' talk and learning.

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