Nursery World - All about...communication friendly spaces

Rich learning environments are vital in extending children's speaking and listening skills, says early years consultant Elizabeth Jarman As clearly set out in the 'Principles into Practice' cards that form part of the guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage, 'language, thinking and learning are interlinked; they depend on and promote each other's development' (1:1 A unique child, Child Development).

As clearly set out in the 'Principles into Practice' cards that form part of the guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage, 'language, thinking and learning are interlinked; they depend on and promote each other's development' (1:1 A unique child, Child Development).

Yet a recent I CAN report, The Cost to the Nation of Poor Communication Skills, suggests that over 50 per cent of children in the UK are starting school with some form of language difficulty or disability. Improving speaking and listening skills is, therefore, high on everyone's agenda.

Despite a huge number of curriculum initiatives over the past decade, classroom spaces have remained much the same. A re-think of how practitioners set up learning spaces to facilitate and support curriculum delivery is long overdue.

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