Literacy Skills (Reading and Writing)

Children need to have a firm grasp of the basic skills before they can advance onto the complex skills of reading and writing. 

“3 year olds are refining their listening skills to hear the sounds in words with clarity and use games and rhymes to do this.  This is all that is needed at this stage and there is no need to begin on their letter sounds.  4 year olds are beginning to understand the marks on the page that make up print and that these marks have meaning. Some 4 year olds are keen to read their own names and are becoming interested in what some words say.  When ready they will move on to the next stages.   Readiness is important as confusing a child who does not yet understand will just put them off and worry them, waiting a few more weeks will not hold a child back but ensure they are establishing a firm footing on the road to reading.”  Stephanie Mathivet  PLA Under 5’s October 2010

Therefore, as your child is only 3 or 4 the pre-school will ensure they are exposed to an environment, rich and diverse in language, stories and sounds.  They will be given many opportunities to refine motor skills by using spades, bats, chalks and pens.

Children learn to write initially by making random marks and pass through several stages to become prolific writers.  Children need the opportunity to acquire and refine initially gross then fine motor skills to control this mark making.

Generally, reading and writing should not be expected until your child has started lower school.