When children start school they should be able to speak to their new friends in full sentences, ask teachers simple questions and understand what they’re told to do. When they have these skills they’ll feel more confident and they’ll be happier. But children starting school all across the UK today are unable to do these things. In England, 1 in 4 children starting primary school are behind with their level of literacy development (language, communication and literacy skills) by the time they start primary school, rising to more than 1 in 3 (42%) in some areas (Department for Education, 2019). The picture is similar in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland too. Language and communication skills unlock literacy, and that’s why Tiny Happy People is concentrating on the building blocks of language development.

www.bbc.co.uk/...