Nursery World - Marking time (1)

Use Birth to Three Matters to guide literacy learning, says Jennie Lindon One of the ten principles underpinning Birth to Three Matters is 'Learning is a shared process and children learn most effectively when, with the support of a knowledgeable and trusted adult, they are actively involved and interested.' This principle applies across all early learning, but it is particularly relevant when it comes to planning for early literacy.

One of the ten principles underpinning Birth to Three Matters is 'Learning is a shared process and children learn most effectively when, with the support of a knowledgeable and trusted adult, they are actively involved and interested.' This principle applies across all early learning, but it is particularly relevant when it comes to planning for early literacy.

To support early literacy skills, practitioners need to:

* understand how under-threes build these skills

* understand how to support children when they are genuinely ready to crack the code for written language

* have the confidence to share sensible approaches with parents and carers, who may urge them to press ahead with 'proper learning', even with very young children. It is not surprising that some parents want to leap ahead - many plastic toys and electronic pads claim to teach toddlers, sometimes even babies, the letters of the alphabet, implying that this ridiculous aim is a realistic expectation.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included