16 Aug Prepare your child for Primary School with the Essex Year of Reading
Parents and carers of young children are being encouraged to help their little ones get ready for Reception with the Essex Year of Reading.
Essex County Council is sharing some top tips to help parents and carers prepare their young child to start Primary school in September.
The tips are part of the Essex Year of Reading campaign, which was set up to instil a lifelong love of reading. Reading is an easy and fun way to help young children feel confident starting school.
When children enter the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), they will be developing their reading comprehension skills, as well as exploring words and language. This can help them in other areas of education and as they grow.
As children prepare to start school, parents and carers are encouraged to:
1. Read to their child. Listening to stories exposes children to words they may not hear everyday and helps to expand their vocabulary.
2. Ask their child questions when reading together. Discussing what happened in a book or what children think might happen based on a book cover are great ways to develop their language comprehension skills.
3. Discuss the meaning of words. Understanding what words mean allows children to make sense of the world around them through language.
4. Sing and make rhymes together. Rhyming helps children understand and use language, as well as recognise language patterns.
5. Use resources to support their child. Find out more about developing children’s language and communication skills though the Talk, Listen, Cuddle campaign and Essex Year of Reading app.
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability said: “Starting Primary School is an important milestone for every young child. We know it can also be a daunting one for parents and carers. The good news is there are lots of ways to help children prepare. Every child is different but reading, and being read to, can be hugely beneficial for children. Doing this together can give young children a strong foundation for starting school, as well as help them to feel more confident and ready to learn.”
To find out more about the Essex Year of Reading campaign, visit www.essexyearofreading.co.uk or download the Essex Year of Reading app from the App Store or Google Play.
